- April 18, 2024
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School Board members, caught off guard at a board meeting Aug. 20 when a pastor invited by School Board Chairwoman Janet McDonald gave an invocation at the opening of the meeting, will discuss during a workshop whether to continue such a practice in the future.
The board meetings have not traditionally included invocations. Board member Andy Dance, speaking later during the meeting, said he’d been “a little confused” at that unusual opening, and suggested the board discuss the matter during a workshop.
“I think we need to discuss this, because it’s kind of a major shift, so it seems to me we neededboard buy in,” he said. “I had been under the impression that we had it, and then it just fell off, and so it was a past practice,” McDonald said. “So, I apologize if I’ve offended or overstepped, but I was just bringing back a past practice.”
Dance said that if there had been invocations in the past, they had been before his time on the board. He started in 2008. McDonald, as she’d invited the audience at the meeting to stand for the presentation of colors and the singing of the anthem, had also asked them to please remain standing for the invocation, which was given by the Rev. Jeanine Clontz, of the Flagler Beach United Methodist Church.
“Gracious and loving God, we call on you to surround all of our schools, here locally and around the nation, with your protection this year,” Clontz said. “We pray for all the students, the educators and all who work with our schools, that they all have a safe and productive year, free to teach and learn without fear, and without acts of violence on our campuses. Protect the students from gossip and bullying. Oh God, we ask this in your precious name. Amen.”
McDonald thanked Clontz. “She’s starting off a new tradition, I hope, to include the members of our faith communities and our support communities out there,” McDonald said. “One of the big initiatives we have is our mental health and personal wellness initiative, and I think our faith community plays a big part in that. So, if you have a faith leader that you would like to have join our board and share their thoughts and a little bit about the outreach that they provide, please don’t hesitate to contact us.”
