BY KARISSA MILLER

The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education on Monday will consider a request to display a poster that features the Ten Commandments, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights in district schools.

After gaining permission from the rest of the board, Brian Sloan contacted a North Iredell High School grad to help him design a “Founding Documents” poster.

“He’s got a top-notch design team and after that he created this,” Sloan said at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting while holding up a poster that displayed documents in historical order.

“I think all of these made major contributions to our country and our people,” Sloan said. “I don’t think we, as a board, should force our students to read these, study these or memorize these documents. I would like these documents to readily visible.”

“Maybe it will remind us all of where we come from — especially now,” he added.

Sloan said some people may question including the Ten Commandments, but he argues that they are part of the foundation of the state and national governments.

“North Carolina state law lists the Ten Commandments by name. It’s okay to display them if it’s done in a certain manner. I believe that this display is well within the letter of the law,” Sloan said.

If approved by the board, the poster would be displayed in the school’s entrance foyer or library.

The posters will be paid for through private donations and business in the community, Sloan said.

“I see little to no cost to the school system,” he explained.

Board member Mike Kubiniec voiced his support for the posters.

“We have to teach those young people what those words mean and who they were written for,” he said.

Board member Doug Knight said that he liked the poster design, but said it was hard to read.

“This would be to draw an interest to it and the kids can research it themselves,” Sloan said.

Knight said he understands that the poster meets state law, but he questioned if it meets federal law.

“If we posted it and there were lawsuits, where would that money come from?” he asked.

The district would likely have to use funds from its local budget, which pays for teacher assistants, to pay attorney’s fees if the board is sued, Knight added.

“Our actions now cause other actions to exist,” he added.

School board attorney Dean Shatley said he’s not aware of any North Carolina school system that has any type of historical document poster on permanent or temporary display in their schools.

Chairman Bill Howell said that the board will vote on the matter during its meeting on Monday. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Career Academy and Technical School, 350 Old Murdock Road in Troutman.

“This will be a voting item, and the board will show how they feel Monday night,” Howell said.