Though Grand Island Senior High School traditionally allows seniors to pay $50 for their own parking spot, where they are encouraged to "express themselves through positive artwork," Sabrina Steffans, a Christian, was told she could not decorate her personal parking spot how she wanted.
"Sabrina was forbidden from putting any of the religious references on the parking space," First Liberty Institute's Keisha Russell summarizes. "Now this school has reversed course and allowed her to pick the very first design that she wanted."
Steffans had submitted three different designs, but the school kept telling her to minimize or otherwise alter the religious messaging.
"The first [design], I wasn't very surprised that they turned that down because I do run a Bible club, and they turned down a lot of stuff in the Bible club," Steffans told Fox News on Tuesday. "I was kind of surprised [they turned down the second design] because it was only a Bible verse, so that's when we kind of decided to take charge and move forward with this [legal action]," she added.
First Liberty reminded administrators that they cannot discriminate against religious messages.
"They asked for time to look things over and investigate, and then the next time we heard from them, they said … that they don't agree that they're doing anything wrong, but nevertheless, to avoid costly litigation, they will allow Sabrina to paint the designs on her spot," Russell reports.
Grand Island Central School District Superintendent Brian Graham previously reiterated the district's commitment to "fostering an inclusive school environment that respects the rights and dignity of all students."
"We also take seriously our responsibility to uphold constitutional principles, including the First Amendment," he continued. "While we strongly dispute any assertion that our policies or decisions violated the rights of any student, the Board of Education and District leadership, after careful consultation with legal counsel, have decided that the student in question will be permitted to proceed with her original senior parking space design."
There was not much of a conversation with school officials, but Russell says First Liberty is "very excited" and Sabrina is "very, very grateful" for this outcome.
