Church sues over fees at Sun Prairie school
MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ A federal lawsuit filed against the Sun Prairie school district alleges that its policy to charge religious groups rental fees for using school facilities is unconstitutional.
The Alliance Defense Fund filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
The lawsuit alleges that the district gives other nonreligious groups including the Girl Scouts and 4-H free access to its facilities. But it says Sun Prairie's Open Door Church was charged a fee for one of its clubs to hold a meeting at an elementary school.
The lawsuit is asking for a court to order the district to stop charging the fees.
A message left with the district's administrator seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Sep 12, 2008 at 1:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
The constitutional case law is clear. If the district charges a fee, it must be charged to all groups equally. If there is a reason a particular club's meeting requires a fee-based service, that should be something easily determined by any group wishing to use the service.
Sep 11, 2008 at 5:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
I looked at the church's Web site. It looks as if their services are at the middle school (ie they don't have a church building). Club meeting was at an elementary school.
Sep 11, 2008 at 3:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
I wonder why they didn't have the meeting at their church? Why couldn't they have had the club meeting at the church?
Sep 11, 2008 at 3:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
As someone who has used Janesville school facilities for groups on the weekends (events related to children), I know our school district does charge to cover the utilities, cost of a custodian on the premises, and such. Fees are not unreasonable.
Sep 11, 2008 at 2:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hmm, was the church's club affiliated with the school's children? Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and 4-H directly serve the children at the school. If the church's club did not serve the children at that particular school, then yes, they should be charged a rental fee as an outside organization coming in with no ties to the school, and just asking to use the space.
Sep 11, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
The only time I recall a school charging a fee was when it was after certain hours at night and for weekend usage due to the need for a custodian to be present and to clean up/close the school. Perhaps this was the case with this group, while the others were during a time when a custodian was already going to be present???
Sep 11, 2008 at 1:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
I did not understand that part. That the other groups were not being charged. I would have to agree they should not be charged either. I can now see where the law suit came from.
Sep 11, 2008 at 1:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
It's not a matter of entitled in this case, it's a matter of equal treatment. If they were charging the other groups and the church didn't feel they should be charged, I would agree with you. In this case, the other groups are NOT being charged that has them upset.
Sep 11, 2008 at 1:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
I am a church going person. I am sorry but I am tired of religious groups of any kind thinking they are entitled.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.