The head of Utah Atheists said the office is one of a few public entities that could seek to limit a meeting's opening remarks, which could include prayers, to state school board members.

"This goes against the Society of Separationists v. Whitehead decision," said the organization's director, Julian Hatch, referring to a 1993 Utah Supreme Court decision. That ruling, followed by many Utah cities, allows prayer in government meetings - as long as an opportunity to pray is extended to anyone, including audience members.

"It has to be free speech for everyone," he said.

In response to an October letter from Hatch that protested the state school board's opening remarks procedure, Office of Education attorney Carol Lear in December sent suggestions to Utah's school districts.

"We're not directing them how to act," Lear said. "That's up to them. We simply provided them with information."

Lear's suggestions say the state and local boards of education should:

* Develop a policy about opening remarks at meetings.

* Replace "opening prayer" or "invocation" with "more neutral" phrases such as "opening remarks," "reverence" or "welcoming remarks."

* Designate the people who will begin meetings.

Lear also concludes that school boards may restrict opening remarks to board members only.

Hatch then responded last month to Lear's December mailing and outlined his group's continued objections to the state school board's policy.

Janet Cannon, vice chairwoman of the state school board, was not aware of Lear's recommendations to local school districts. Cannon said that the board will consider changing its bylaws to deal with the opening remarks issue at its Feb. 18 meeting.

Jordan School Board President Peggy Jo Kennett said she and her colleagues decided a few years ago to change the name of the beginning of meetings to "reverence."

"Sometimes people give a thought; sometimes they give a prayer - whatever the person feels like they'd like to do," she said. "We give absolutely no direction to what they should say. So, we're comfortable with what Carol Lear has said."

mcronin@sltrib.com