School Board Reverses Ban on Service Clubs

In a dramatic reversal as a new academic year starts, a south Orange County school board will allow extracurricular clubs--including religious and gay groups--to meet on high school campuses.

The decision comes three months after Saddleback Unified School District officials decided to ban more than 25 service clubs from high school campuses rather than officially recognize a Christian club. The earlier decision followed a state appeals court ruling that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes was entitled to the same rights as other clubs.

But after agonizing over the summer, four of five Saddleback board members reversed themselves Tuesday, saying they believed students’ education would suffer without clubs such as the Red Cross and Environmental Action. The policy change is effective immediately.