Schools

Alliance Defense Fund Proceeding with Suit Against St. Michael-Albertville School District

The ADF stated there is "no confusion" about its goal, which is to get the ALIV (All Life Is Valuable) Club full status with the district.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is moving forward with its lawsuit against the St. Michael-Albertville School District, saying there is “no confusion” about its side of the suit.

In response to comments made by Superintendent-elect Jim Behle to St. Michael Patch in a story that appeared , an ADF spokesman said the district is attempting to “muddy the water” by simply stating the club had rights to meet before and after school.

“The fact is, we knew that, and we stated that in the complaint,” David Cortman of the ADF told Patch Tuesday, April 12. “We stand behind that complaint. There is no confusion. We want the pro-life club to have the same rights that are allowed other clubs. That is the issue here.”

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Though the district is following its established policy of letting clubs that are non-curriculum related meet before or after school, it's not giving ALIV the same access to resources that it could have if it were given full acceptance.

That’s not good policy, and that’s the issue at the heart of the complaint, Cortman said.

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“Under their policy, things like the environmental club and the book club are tied to curriculum, and this is not. We believe the ALIV Club is tied to the curriculum through the high school’s health classes,” Cortman said. “What the district is doing is showing a misinterpretation of the law but not giving the same access to political or religious groups. The problem is, in the statements they’re making to the media, they’re not addressing that issue. They’re saying that club has the right to meet. We’re not seeking approval. We’re seeking the same recognition.”

According to the high school’s website, the Anime Magna Club is allowed to meet during the SNAP (Student Needed Activity Period) hour. If the district is only allowing the ALIV club to meet prior to or after school, it does not have the same access during school.

Behle said no students, parents, community members or representatives from the Alliance Defense Group ever came to district officials with this complaint, making the lawsuit “quite a surprise.”

“Obviously they believed, and we’re kind of confused by this, that for some reason this group was going to be denied,” Behle told Patch Friday, adding that the inquiring student had been spoken with on Friday to emphasize their initial message that the group was allowed to meet at the school.

“There’s obviously some confusion someplace by the national organization [Alliance Defense Fund] that filed this,” he added.

That’s not the case, Cortman said.

“Before or after school isn’t the problem here. Whether the group is accepted or not isn’t the problem. We’re getting a little double talk from the school district. They’re not addressing the issue,” he said.

The ADF will file a motion for preliminary injunction, Cortman said, and that should start the legal process rolling. A federal court hearing could be scheduled after that filing, Cortman said.

The ADF has filed past lawsuits against Minnesota public schools. The group supported a lawsuit against the Crosby-Ironton School District when students were not allowed to pass out fliers for a prayer gathering. It also sued the University of Minnesota in 2003.


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