A Bible verse, a parking spot and a legal fight: D20 senior challenges school decision
Mackenzie Stafford
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A Rampart High School senior says she was denied the chance to paint a Bible verse on her parking spot, and now a national religious liberty group is stepping in.
Sophia Shumaker is a senior at Rampart High School. She requested to paint her parking space as a shepherd on a hill, a staff, and a sheep, along with a Bible verse, according to First Liberty Institute, the legal group now representing her. However, they say the school denied her design.
First Liberty Institute says Rampart High School denied the request, pointing to a school policy restricting political and religious paintings. First Liberty Institute argues that this is inconsistent across Colorado Springs Academy School District 20 schools, so the law group sent a demand letter to the district.
Rampart-High-School-Demand-Letter13_RedactedDownload
Shumaker tells KRDO13 she wanted to leave her mark for her senior year.
“It usually is kind of like a reflection of who they are and just something a way to express themselves before leaving the school.” Shumaker continued, “My original inspiration was the shepherd and the sheep, from Psalms.”
But when Rampart High School denied her request, she said she was devastated.
“Honestly, really upset because I’d been planning, like, this parking spot with, like, my best friend for forever, and then it just didn’t work out. It was kind of like a piece of me was missing, and it almost felt like I had to, you know, kind of hide my faith in a way,” explained Shumaker.
The high school rules outline no religious or political paintings.
Senior Parking Spot Info and ContractDownload
But Shumaker says she draws inspiration from recently deceased activist Charlie Kirk.
“Charlie Kirk has honestly changed my life, and he makes it so easy for me to want to go out and fight for what I believe in,” shared Shumaker.
She and First Liberty Institute say other schools in District 20 have faith-based parking spots.
“It’s very confusing to see other people being able to express their faith. And then at your school, you can’t,” said Keisha Russell of First Liberty Institute.
Academy School District 20 sent KRDO13 this statement in response to our questions.
“Academy District 20 is aware of an attorney letter regarding a Rampart High School student parking spot design. We do not comment on potential legal matters or individual student situations but confirm that we are reviewing the information provided. Although Academy District 20 was not contacted by a family or student about this concern and did not receive the attorney’s letter prior to Oct. 22, we can share that Rampart High School’s senior parking-spot program is a school-sponsored activity with content guidelines and a staff approval process.”
-Academy District 20