Alva Review-Courier -

HARRISON, Ark. (AP) — One of two northern Arkansas school boards has opted to pray before meetings after receiving a letter of complaint from a foundation that monitors matters regarding church and state.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin, sent a letter to the Springdale board Dec. 29 and to the Harrison board March 6.

The letter said public prayers before board meetings violated the U.S Constitution. It warned the boards that opening meetings with prayers could subject their districts to "unnecessary liability and potential financial strain."

The foundation's staff attorney, Patrick Elliott, said the group received complaints regarding meetings of both school boards. He added that forcing individuals to participate in payer can be intimidating.

But after researching the legality of the public prayers the Harrison board unanimously decided at a meeting last week to open meetings with a prayer.

"The board had no discussion," said board President Jon Burnside. "The motion was made to continue prayer, and it passed unanimously."

In making its decision, the board referred to a Jan. 17 seminar where Little Rock attorney Cody Kees said a school board has the right "to pray because the meeting is comprised of adults and does not make children susceptible to religious indoctrination."

Springdale School Board President Randy Hutchinson said the board stopped praying at the end of 2016 and is still doing its due diligence.

"At this point we have decided not to pray before the meeting to make sure all our legal ducks are in a row, so to speak," said Hutchinson.