Hillsborough County School Superintendent Jeff Eakins presented school board members with a five-page document Tuesday, explaining how the district has handled complaints about faith-based organizations promoting their religious beliefs in public schools.

  • Hillsborough school superintendent working to strengthen faith-based partnership guidelines
  • School board members say they don't want to discourage faith-based groups from helping schools
  • Some officials say help from outside organizations is needed because of shrinking budgets

The report talks about complaints ranging from coffee coupons being distributed by a church to faculty members to students calling a pizza lunch "Jesus Pizza."

Several people spoke at the meeting to question churches and faith-based organizations being involved with volunteering or making donations to the school district.

They said those groups don't necessarily represent the majority of religious beliefs.

"Eighty-two percent of our families are very much concerned that when children come to our schools, they may be subjected to some kind of religious coercion during lunch or on the playground and that is something we need to take very seriously," said Russell Meier.

Eakins said he is working to strengthen the district's Faith-Based Partnership Guidelines to include more training for employees and organizations about staying neutral and keeping their messages secular and more screening for volunteers.

"All things must be done in a fashion by which we are not crossing that line, going outside that common ground that we have to endorse or say that we as an organization are promoting a particular faith," said Eakins.

Board members said they support those measures but they also said they don't want to discourage faith-based groups and volunteers from contributing to schools.

"A lot of times one or two bad apples create a lot of regulation and work and discourage people from participating," said board member Melissa Snively.

Some officials said with shrinking budgets, help from outside organizations is needed.

Eakins said that the district's actions are legal and appropriate.