Agreement reached in Fremont School District religion lawsuit

An agreement has been reached in a lawsuit against the Fremont School District in Florence. The suit involved the Cowboy Church at Crossroads. A former teacher complained about religious activities on school grounds.

Pastor Randy Pfaff began leading worship service at Florence High School in November 2011. Last May a lawsuit was filed that stopped Pfaff from holding services at the school.

“A teacher who had just been hired in 2014 had filed a lawsuit. He was an Orthodox Jew and said my presence was offensive to him,” said Pfaff.

In the lawsuit, former teacher Robert Basevitz expressed concerns about daily prayers and religious events happening at the school.

One of the events included students voluntarily gathering outside the school by the flag poles in the morning before class. They would join Pfaff in prayer.

Now, group praying outside the flag pole is not allowed, it’s part of the new settlement signed Wednesday.

Basevit’s attorney, Eric Hall, said the lawsuit was settled based upon 10 rules of order. Those rules include a ban on district employees engaging in religious activities with students, such as praying. Another rule is student-led religious groups must be genuinely student-led.

The district and Cowboy Church at the Crossroads mutually agreed that the church will no longer use district facilities for its worship services. The church will now conduct services at the Penrose Community Center.

Basevitz resigned from the school district in May.