Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Leander ISD for refusing to display donated copies of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, according to a statement released by his office Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 18.

“These rogue ISD officials and board members blatantly disregarded the will of Texas voters who expect the legal and moral heritage of our state to be displayed in accordance with the law,” Attorney General Paxton said in the statement. “Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD chose to defy a clear statutory mandate, and this lawsuit makes clear that no district may ignore Texas law without consequence.”

Shortly after the lawsuit was announced, Leander ISD released a statement that said the district is “confounded” by the Attorney General’s decision to sue and argued it has been complying with the requirements of Senate Bill 10.

“Leander ISD has accepted donated posters and has actively implemented the law in accordance with state requirements,” the district said. “At no point has Leander ISD taken action to defy or disregard the law.”

The district also said it was not contacted by the Attorney General’s Office prior to the lawsuit being filed and noted that it has a spreadsheet documenting exactly how many posters were received and where they have been displayed.

“Despite this unnecessary distraction,” the district’s statement said. “Leander ISD and the Board of Trustees remain resolved in their efforts to provide high-quality experiences to each and every student while honoring both legal responsibilities and the mission to serve families with integrity.”

In late June, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 10 into law, enforcing a state-wide mandate for public schools to display the Ten Commandments “in a conspicuous place” in each classroom. The policy faced criticism and lawsuits from advocates supporting the separation of church and state, including the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU.

“Posting the Ten Commandments in public schools is un-American and un-Baptist,” Griff Martin, a pastor, parent and plaintiff in one of the ACLU lawsuits, said in a statement. “SB 10 undermines the separation of church and state as a bedrock principle of my family’s Baptist heritage. Baptists have long held that the government has no role in religion — so that our faith may remain free and authentic.”

According to school board president Anna Smith, the district is willing to hang up the signs if they are donated and the school board will be discussing the lawsuit on Thursday at their meeting.

“We’re following the law,” Smith said. “By Thursday, I’m hoping to have some more guidance as far as where we’re going and what we’re going to do because we are following the law. We have them placed in the schools that they were donated to.”

As reported by the Vandegrift Voice in September, some students in the district believe the displays are “a good thing,” but others questioned the law.

In August, a federal judge issued a injunction preventing 11 Texas school districts from implementing the law. Leander ISD was not included in the ruling. A federal appeals court is set to hear the state’s argument against the ruling in January.

“The Ten Commandments are a cornerstone of American law, and that fact simply cannot be erased by radical, anti-American groups trying to ignore our moral heritage,” Paxton said. “There is no legal reason to stop Texas from honoring a core ethical foundation of our law, especially not a bogus claim about the ‘separation of church and state,’ which is a phrase found nowhere in the Constitution.”

Less than a week after the ruling, Paxton ordered all districts not involved in the lawsuits to display the Ten Commandments. Paxton sued Galveston ISD on Nov. 7 for refusing to comply with the law.

“We will closely monitor any possible litigation and consult with our legal counsel before making further decisions,” a Galveston ISD spokesperson said in an email Friday. “In the meantime, our focus remains on elevating instruction, valuing a respectful culture, and promoting a safe environment for students and staff.”

Round Rock ISD was also included in the lawsuit against Leander ISD. According to the statement from Paxton’s office, Round Rock ISD confirmed its refusal to comply with SB 10 in an email from its General Counsel sent Sept. 15.

SB 10 was one of multiple new state laws that went into effect this school year in efforts to further regulate public schools. Others include SB 12 which imposed new rules related to school clubs and organizations and HB 1481 which banned phones during the school day.

This is a developing story. New details will be added as they develop.