TEUTOPOLIS, Ill. — A school board in Illinois has approved an agreement with a parent who disputed the way public school buses were used to transport students who wanted to take part in a religious program.

After more than an hour of public comments Tuesday night, the Teutopolis Unit 50 Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify the agreement, brokered by the American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU), stipulating that public buses will no longer take students to Teutopolis Grade School an hour before regular classes are scheduled to begin.

Some in the crowd of more than 100 people at Teutopolis High School suggested that the board counter the proposed settlement, but board members told those in attendance that it was time to move on. Additionally, Superintendent Bill Fritcher said that if officials did not agree to the settlement, “Parent Doe” could file suit in federal court as early as Wednesday morning.

School officials, however, said it wasn’t an easy choice.

“This decision is very difficult for me,” said board member Chad Hewing. “This decision is very difficult for most of us. But this proposal is the best we’re going to get, and if we delay a decision, it could get very ugly, very quickly.”

According to the settlement, the parent approached the board last year and asserted that existing practices related to religion classes made their child feel “excluded and stigmatized.” The parent expressed belief that the school district “engaged in practices that caused the child to feel excluded” — and violated the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

The Effingham, Illinois Daily News reports that under the terms of the agreement, school buses will bring students to school about 15 minutes before the start of the school day. Moreover, all students — whether in religion class or not — will assemble in a common area, such as the gym or cafeteria, before reporting to their homeroom class.

The changes take effect in the fall.

Several speakers at the meeting encouraged the board to nix the settlement and fight what they feel is an intrusion on a long-standing community tradition.

“I don’t know of any (school) districts where the bus schedules will be controlled by one parent,” said parent Eric Pals. “We have operated under God’s providence for 176 years. How do we know that a lawsuit isn’t a test from God Himself?”

“I think you have to draw a line in the sand,” Pals added. “To hell with the ACLU. Where does this stop?”

Pals added that the settlement terms as related to busing “will create undue burdens for a lot of parents.”

Board member Troy Ozenkoski said the key factor was the threat of a lawsuit.

“I was as upset as the rest of you,” he said. “But as a school board member, I have to remove my emotions. I don’t want to be that guy who bankrupts the school district.”

ACLU of Illinois senior staff attorney Rebecca Glenberg praised the board’s decision in a prepared statement issued Tuesday evening.

“We are pleased that the district has worked to address the concerns raised by their practice,” Glenberg said. “Together, we have reached a resolution that protects students from being stigmatized or excluded simply because their family is not of the majority faith.”

“When government practices protect one particular religious group, the religious liberty of everyone is diminished,” Glenberg added. “By eliminating such favoritism, this agreement promotes the interests and needs of all Teutopolis Grade School students.”

Grimes writes for the Effingham, Illinois Daily News.