Read more: Local, Education, Georgetown High School, Prayer Group, Violet Infinger, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, School District, Banned, Bible Verses
The prayer group leader banned last week from Georgetown High School will meet with school officials Wednesday to decide her future.
"I don't know what I'll be able to do. Only tomorrow (will I know) when I go to school to our meeting to find out what we'll be able to do," said Violet Infinger.
Infinger had led a morning prayer group at GHS for almost a decade until a formal complaint led to her removal.
"This week has been real sad because I haven't been able to be at school," Infinger said Tuesday night.
The Washington, D.C.-based group Americans United for Separation of Church and State received a complaint about Infinger distributing religious material on school grounds.
An attorney from the group contacted the school district, which launched an investigation and decided Infinger should be removed.
"I think there were some legitimate concerns expressed with the distribution of literature by an individual," Georgetown County Superintendent Dr. Randy Dozier said in a statement.
Infinger would meet with students each morning to pray, talk, and hand out bible verses to those who wanted them, "To let the kids know that somebody does care and somebody does love them," she said.
But the AUSCS took issue with an outsider being on school grounds to "preach to students and distribute religious literature."
Rob Boston with AUSCS said that approach to such a religious club "usurps parental rights and presents security concerns."
After the group applied pressure, the school district took action to "address these concerns, and to be in compliance with constitutional law and federal mandates."
The club will now be student-run with a faculty sponsor and must submit a statement to GHS administration noting the club's goals, purposes, and activities.
The superintendent said "ministers and church lay people may be invited by students to attend club activities as long as those volunteers meet the requirements set forth by the Georgetown County School District regarding school volunteers."
Further, "the District does not permit the distribution of any unapproved materials on any school campus. The prayer club will be subject to these same restrictions on the distribution of religious literature."
The Washington, D.C., group said it was happy with the school's decision.
"Americans United applauds officials at Georgetown High for acting quickly to resolve this matter in a way that respects the rights of students and their families and honors the U.S. Constitution," Boston said in an e-mailed statement.
As for Infinger, she hopes she'll be able to return in some capacity, but knows it won't be what it once was.
"They're trying to take God out of America, and you know, we can't," said Infinger.
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