CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. — A Ten Commandments monument that has been displayed at Connellsville Junior High School since 1957 is now covered up, and will soon come down.
Channel 11's Julie Fine talked with Connellsville Area School District Superintendent Daniel Lujetic about the display dispute, and the reasons behind the board's decision.
Dr. Lujetic said that he got a letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a group out of Washington, D.C., asking them to take down the monument. The group cited court cases.
"I counseled with the school board and solicitor, and he recommended that if we fought this -- which we considered doing -- we would spend a lot of taxpayer money on something we can't win," Dr. Lujetic explained.
"I was appalled," parent Robin Mowry said. "I was offended by the fact that I am driving past it, and it was covered up."
In addition to the first letter from D.C., the district also got the same written request from a local lawyer representing a parent.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State released the following statement:
"The Constitution allows parents -- not public school officials -- to direct their children's religious upbringing."
WPXI
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
