Associate and assistant principals must remove all copies of the Ten Commandments in classrooms by the end of the day, after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction Tuesday, ruling that enforcing Senate Bill 10 is unconstitutional.
“I know some will be upset, some will be happy about it,” Associate Principal Nicholas Moore said. “(The court order) is a personal takeaway, but this is the way a democratic system works; know that sometimes democracy is uncomfortable. That is the foundation of what this country was built on.”
At the Sept. 16 school board meeting, a local attorney threatened to sue and remove any board member who condoned removing the posters for violating state law, forcing the board to roll out enforcement despite hesitation.
“No matter what direction Conroe ISD took with the posters, the district was going to get sued,” Board trustee Melissa Semmler said.
On Sept. 22, 15 families partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union and sued 14 school districts – including Conroe ISD – for enforcing SB 10, arguing it violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.
U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia blocked case dismissal and sided with Plaintiffs to grant the preliminary injunction.
“Indeed, SB 10 makes it impossible for their children to avoid the displays,” Garcia wrote in the case ruling. “There is no question that these Plaintiffs have suffered constitutionally sufficient injuries.”
Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsor Mark Kovach doubts the commandments impacted high school students, but said enforcing the commandments gives Christians like him a bad reputation.
“I don’t want my children being taught a twisted or confused version of my religion,” Kovach said. “So it’s my job to teach my children my faith. I don’t want someone that doesn’t subscribe to that faith explaining the faith to them in a persuasive manner.”
Moore said only teachers have complained about SB 10, and he’s yet to hear from students. FCA senior Jacob Rhodes advocates for the posters, arguing that every school in the U.S. should require the commandments.
“People in this world really don’t know about Jesus,” Rhodes said. “I feel like the Ten Commandments will help them get closer and learn about Jesus the way they should. If (students) are confused by them, why don’t they just learn about it?”
The injunction will remain unless further court action says otherwise, marking the ACLU’s second successful lawsuit against SB 10. Admins will preserve the posters in case the injunction is reversed.
Semmler said the lawsuit creates stress for both her district personnel in charge of hanging and removing the posters, adding that Conroe High School alone is roughly 600,000 square feet. Caney Creek High School required roughly 300 posters.
“It is demoralizing to put this much work into organizing and hanging the posters, while knowing no matter what decision is made, we will be sued,” Semmler said. “I would have preferred everyone’s time and resources be directed toward prioritizing student success; any outcome that allows us to return our focus to the success of our students and district would be my preferred outcome.”
