Ohio school moves Jesus portrait at center of suit

JACKSON, Ohio (AP) — The superintendent of a southern Ohio district facing a federal lawsuit over a Jesus portrait in a middle school says it’s been moved to a high school at the preference of the Christian-based student club that the district views as the picture’s owner.

A complaint about the portrait left Jackson City Schools in southern Ohio amid a debate over what displays of religion are constitutional.

The Hi-Y club put the portrait up in 1947. The school board recently voted to keep the portrait up, while allowing other student groups to hang portraits related to their focuses. Officials said taking it down would censor students’ private speech.

A lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and Freedom From Religion Foundation contends the portrait unconstitutionally promotes religion at school.