There was standing room only at the Chesterfield County School Board meeting Monday evening. Most of the crowd was there to show their support of Principal Larry Stinson of New Heights Middle School. Last month Stinson scheduled a Christian concert and rally that prompted constitutional issues regarding religion in public school.

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“It looks like we got this big new meeting room finished just in time,” Chesterfield County Superintendent John Williams said at Monday evening’s county school board meeting. He was scanning an overflowing crowd of parents, dotted with red shirts from New Heights Middle School, anxious to extend unwavering support of their principal’s decision to allow a Christian rock singer and evangelist to perform during school hours.

The Jefferson area parents remain solid in their approval and support of bringing Christianity into the public school system, despite accusations the Chesterfield County School Board is facing for alleged constitutional violations.

Last week, both the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) requested information and documents under the Freedom of Information Act from Superintendent Williams. The claims launched against the Chesterfield County School District allege “fundamental principles embodied in the Bill of Rights and the United States and South Carolina Constitution” were violated.

A statement from the ACLU to Williams reads, “under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, government may not promote religious beliefs.”

In a brief interview following Monday’s meeting, New Heights Middle School parent Elizabeth Smith said she and approximately 200 others were there to “glorify God and support Jesus Christ in our schools.”

Another parent, Sandra Plyler, said, “Principal Stinson has made a lot of wonderful changes in the school in recent years.”

Williams acknowledged their presence and support of Principal Larry Stinson.

“I see a lot of New Heights shirts and supporters here,” said Williams, adding he had nothing to report concerning New Heights Principal Larry Stinson or the status of the requested documentation. “As I have said before, I will not and have not discussed Principal Stinson in public, private or executive session.

“Evidently most of the board is supportive because they’ve been very, very quiet,” Williams told the crowd. “That’s usually a show of support. And believe me, they don’t have any problem being vocal on issues.”

However, Williams lightened the blow of his next point to the crowd by saying, “this is not going to be the most popular thing to say … ”

“Regardless of his message, and my personal or professional opinion,” Williams said, “I have a personal concern with B-SHOC.”

B-SHOC is a stage name for Christian rocker Bryan Edmonds of Charlotte, N.C., whose performance in the school gym last month included what students described as a “mesmerizing” light show. Edmonds posted pre-show video in the halls of the school highlighting his enthusiasm for being allowed to perform in the public school system.

“He put images of children on the Internet without permission,” which is strictly against board policy, Williams said. “I know had my own child been thrown out there to the world, I would have been some kind of upset.”

And though he said he wouldn’t discuss it, Williams did tell the crowd of supportive parents that “Mr. Stinson does not agree with some of the statements made in video.”

Although Edmonds removed the video from YouTube, that’s where it was discovered by members of the FFRF and the ACLU, making Chesterfield County the subject of national controversy.

The video was copied before it was removed from the web and is still available for view on the ACLU’s website. The principal’s actions, along with the policies and procedures regarding religion in Chesterfield County’s schools, is still being reviewed.