Fellowship of Christian Athletes employee banned from Florida school district

An employee of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is banned from a school district in Florida following a complaint by atheist group Freedom from Religion Foundation.

"Public school sports teams cannot employ, even on a voluntary basis, a spiritual leader or chaplain for their teams because public schools may not advance or promote religion," wrote FFRF staff attorney Andrew Seidel in a letter dated April 13, addressed to Jeff Eakins, superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools. "Furthermore, it is illegal for public school athletic coaches to lead or allow someone to lead their teams in prayer."

According to FFRF, David Gaskill, area representative of the FCA, Tampa Bay chapter -- who previously admitted his criminal history -- had been involved in the sports programs at the Hillsborough County Public Schools district since around 2014, and appeared to have been the sports chaplain. He was allowed to evangelize to and pray with the sports teams at any time.

"He has the same level of access as a coach even though he has no affiliation with the school," the letter of complaint reads. It also says, "HCPS cannot allow an outside adult like Mr. Gaskill access to the children in its charge so that the can promote his personal religious beliefs to those students."

FFRF also questioned the conduct of staff and coaches because, while performing their duties at an official capacity, they have also been promoting their religion. And by advocating team prayer, an employee "effectively endorses religion on the district's behalf."

Apart from this, FFRF also raised the issues of privacy and safety. The letter points out "serious privacy issues when schools allow outside adults to pose for 'selfies' and pictures with students," which Gaskil had done. Futhermore, he posted these photos online. Gaskill was also allowed by the school to meet the student athletes "in 'intimate locker room' settings" without other adults around.

The 40-page letter of complaint also includes screenshots of Gaskill's posts on social media as well as a list of violations.

In response, Hillsborough County Public Schools has permanently banned Gaskill from all schools, events, and extracurricular activities in the distict. According to The Tampa Tribune, apart from having a criminal record, he also did not go through HCPS's background check procedures.

"In our investigation, we determined this individual and possibly other FCA members did not go through the proper screening process we have, and what he was doing on campuses, as far as advocating his religious views, is a violation of our policy and, we believe, a violation of law," Tanya Arja, school district spokeswoman, said in a meeting with the Christian group. "Students can still have their FCA meetings and can still assemble on campus as long as it's student-led."

Moreover, while the district was investigating, all adult members of the FCA were banned from the district's schools. Before they are allowed to return, they need to attend a community volunteer training as well as undergo a background check. The coaches will also be required to attend a retraining meeting to discuss district policies

For their part, the FCA said they knew about Gaskill's story -- battling with drugs for 27 years and everything that went with it, including getting jailed for violating a restraining order filed by his former wife and contemplating taking his life -- and they said his past was what changed his life.

Gaskill, meanwhile, told the publication that he had talked to thoudands of kids and hundreds of coaches, but he had not received any complaints. He explained that he works with underprivileged schools and with children whose parents are in prison, "and that's why they listen to me because they know what I've been through. It's important because it changed my life."

"The way I do my ministry, I'm very zealous — maybe I'm a little over-zealous," he said. "I'm going to do what needs to be done to get the FCA's name cleared."