CHESAPEAKE, Va. — It was a packed house inside the Chesapeake School Board meeting Monday night as parents sounded off about after-school clubs, including the After School Satan Club.
The issue has come into focus with the "After School Satan Club (ASSC)" which met at B.M. Williams Primary School earlier in February.
The board was presented with two options to discuss Monday.
In a 5-4 vote, the school board voted to allow non-exempt clubs to use school facilities for after-school meetings. Non-exempt clubs are clubs not sponsored by a school employee. Examples of non-exempt clubs include the ASSC and The Good News Club, to name a few.
The school board voted in favor of Option A instead of Option B. Option B would have not allowed non-exempt clubs to meet on school property.
For the first time ever, the board voted that non-exempt clubs will now have to pay a fee to use school facilities. That includes the "ASSC" and the "Evangelical Good News Club."
Nearly 40 speakers signed up to speak at the meeting. During the meeting, parents voiced their concerns about the club.
"The Satan Club is an abomination to the lord. You and I will be accountable for causing innocent children to stubble if we don’t fight this club," one Chesapeake parent said.
"I pulled my daughter from B.M. Williams Primary School due to the After School Satan club meeting," another parent said.
Clubs including the Good News Club were concerned that a policy change of making non-school clubs meet after 6 p.m. could impact them, as well.
"The Good News Club meetings are held weekly in the public elementary schools. Wednesday is a favorite day for my children and me. I really ask that you consider allowing this after-school program to continue," a Chesapeake parent said.
Supporters of the After School Satan club pleaded with the school board to allow them to meet during normal after-school hours.
"I hope this board will ensure the protection of all students regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and instead promote policies that are inclusive," another supporter of the ASSC said. "We have not tried to intimidate anyone in parking lots, make threats. We have not done anything negative besides trying to exist. The only thing wrong with us is our name."
Non-exempt clubs have 60 days to conform to the revised policy.
The school superintendent now has the option to make a recommendation to allow non-exempt clubs to meet directly after school instead of waiting until 6 p.m. to meet on school property.
