Elmbrook School Board votes to ask U.S. Sup. Court to hear graduation case

BROOKFIELD -- FOX6's media partners at the Brookfield Patch reported Tuesday, August 21st the Elmbrook School Board voted 5-2 to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments regarding a lawsuit over whether the school district holding its graduation inside Elmbrook Church is constitutional.

An appeals court ruled Monday, July 23rd that Elmbrook Schools should not have held graduation ceremonies in a church.

A federal court ruling says Elmbrook violated First Amendment rights. Brookfield East and Brookfield Central high schools held their graduation ceremonies at Elmbrook Church for most of the last decade.

A group sued in 2009, calling in a violation of the separation of church and state. The Americans United For Separation of Church and State lawsuit was filed on behalf of nine parents, students and graduates of the district, claiming they shouldn't be forced to attend a ceremony inside a church.

The federal court's ruling reverses a decision from a three-judge panel last September.

CLICK HERE for more on this story from FOX6's media partners at the Brookfield Patch.