State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe (Marshall Griffin, Missourinet News)
Starting August 28th, K-12 public schools and charter schools in Missouri will be allowed to hire chaplains or allow them to serve as volunteers. The bill creating the new law is sponsored by State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe.
“It gives an option, I believe, for schools across our state to put adults in schools to help with some of the mental health things that are going on, both with students as well as teachers,” he told Missourinet.
Black said he thinks allowing chaplains to work in public schools will also pair well with the new law barring students from using their phones during school hours.
“I do believe between this and the bill that says no more cell phone during school time, I think we’re going down a path that will be very positive for school systems, for youth, for education in the future – with these two things,” he said.
As for which religions qualify as chaplain, Black said it can be any one that’s officially recognized as a religion by the U.S. Armed Forces Chaplains Board. Background checks are also required for any chaplain working at a public school, and any chaplain that’s a registered sex offender won’t be allowed.
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