Mission Viejo : Saddleback School Board to Air New Student-Meetings Policy

A policy for allowing political, religious and philosophical student organizations to meet in public schools will be discussed for the second time Tuesday by the Saddleback Unified School District.

The “Equal Access Act,” signed by President Reagan last August, says no school that receives federal funds may discriminate against such student groups in the use of school facilities.

The law applies, however, only to junior and senior high schools with “limited open forum,” that is, schools that are allowing at least one non-curriculum-related group to meet on campus during the school day.

Alexis Perumal, an El Toro High School senior who initiated the request, is the leader of a student Bible group. Perumal said the school board was violating the law by refusing to let the group, called New Life, to meet at school or distribute flyers on campus.

But Supt. Peter A. Hartman said no change is planned in the school’s policy, which prevents off-campus or private clubs from meeting at school during the school day.

“I agree that school board members should obey the law,” Hartman said. “Our current policy is appropriate, in light of California laws and the state and federal constitutions.”

The dispute between the Christian group and the board turns on the definition of a “non-curriculum-related group.”

Perumal argues that meetings of the Key Club, a service club that meets on campus during the school day, are not curriculum-related, but the board disagrees.

“Congress left to local school districts the right to determine what is curriculum-related,” said board member Louise Adler.