The Elmore County (Ala.) school district superintendent has reversed a decision and will allow a high school band to perform the hymn, “Amazing Grace” at football games.
WSFA-TV in Montgomery reports that Superintendent Andre Harrison has decided that the marching band at Holtville High School in Deatsville, Ala., will be allowed to perform the song at its halftime show during the school’s football games.
After receiving a complaint from a citizen objecting to a religious song being performed at a public school event, Harrison had decided last week to remove the hymn from the marching band’s song list. The decision drew objections from many parents and others in the community.
But Harrison says he sought further legal advice and determined that the band could perform the song after all. He explained his decision Sunday in a Facebook post.
“After consulting with legal counsel and receiving an admittedly conservative recommendation, I made the decision to remove the song from the halftime show,” the superintendent’s said.
“…I asked counsel to do further research on this issue and present me with options that would keep the district in legal compliance, but permit performance of one of the most iconic songs in the history of our nation. Based on that additional research, I have decided today that the band will be allowed to perform ‘Amazing Grace’ this fall.”
Video from WSFA-TV:
