PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — The Pflugerville ISD (PfISD) board has approved a resolution accepting chaplain volunteers.
The change is in response to a law passed during the regular legislative session that allows Texas schools to use chaplains in mental health support roles.
The PfISD board emphasized that chaplains have always been welcome to volunteer in the same capacity as any other community member. The board ultimately decided that they welcome the help, but mental health support needs to be left to trained professionals.
"I appreciate hearing from our a lot of our faith-based leaders about how they do not feel they are qualified for the parameters for which they are meant to serve," trustee Chevonne Lorigo-Johst said.
"They can be a crossing guard, they can help in PE class, they'll go through the same vetting process. But we're not excluding somebody because they're a chaplain from being a volunteer," trustee Kelly Daniel said.
Chaplains can still be hired by the district, as long as they are qualified outside of their role as chaplain.
Other major school districts in Central Texas have come to similar conclusions. Austin ISD, Georgetown ISD and San Marcos CISD all discussed chaplains in board meetings earlier this year, but the districts ultimately decided against chaplains stepping in as counselors unless they meet requirements already spelled out by the schools.