Donna K. Busch v. Marple Newtown School District Information

This special section of the Marple Newtown school District website contains documents and information related to the Donna K. Busch v. Marple Newtown School District lawsuit filed on May 2, 2005.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- DATE:  6/2/09

Third Circuit Court Of Appeals Upholds Marple Newtown School District’s Ability
to Protect the Rights Of Its Kindergarten Students And Their Families

            A June 1, 2009 precedential opinion of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, written by Chief Judge Scirica and joined by Circuit Judge Barry, held that Marple Newtown  School District upheld the law when it had requested that a mother refrain from reading aloud from the Bible to an audience of kindergarten students as part of a mandatory classroom exercise.  The case is Busch v. Marple Newtown School District, et al.  The Court of Appeals held that “a reading from the Bible or other religious text is more than a message and unquestionably conveys a strong sense of spiritual and moral authority.  In this case, the audience is involuntary and very young.  Parents of public school kindergarten students may reasonably expect their children will not become captive audiences to an adult’s reading of religious texts.”  Mark A. Sereni, Esquire of the law firm of DiOrio & Sereni, LLP was lead counsel for Marple Newtown School District.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT DISTRICT SPOKESPERSON
EDWARD C. PARTRIDGE, VICE-PRESIDENT, BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS AT SchoolBoard@mnsd.org.         

Available for download -- Third Circuit Court of Apeals Decision dated June 1, 2009

On May 31, 2007, the federal District Court dismissed the lawsuit, finding that the District acted in accordance with the law. Click here to read federal District Court decision.

Donna K Busch appealed the Court's decision on June 29, 2007.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the superintendent's office at 610-359-4256 or via email at legalquestions@mnsd.org.

You will need Adobe Acrobat to open the following links:

Donna K. Busch v. Marple Newtown School District complaint 5/2/05

Marple Newtown School District Answer to Complaint 6/8/05