The Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union has filed a formal freedom of information request seeking documents regarding the creation of the Greece Central School District’s Directory of Youth Services, which was prepared and distributed in partnership with a small number of local Christian churches.

“Our schools are supposed to teach our youth about the Constitution, and yet the Greece school district appears to be forgetting basic First Amendment principles,” said Gary Pudup, director of the NYCLU’s Genesee Valley Chapter. “The community needs to know exactly what the intent of this directory is and how it was created.”

According to the directory’s introduction, it includes contact information for “a number of organizations that assist youth and their families in different ways. Whether you need to know where to get counseling and guidance or tutoring services, this directory is a good place to start.” Yet the 17-page directory appears to overwhelmingly direct youth to mainline Christian churches. It lists contact information for 36 mainline Christian churches in town and only seven secular resources, such as the library and a food pantry. It does not include information on the local Buddhist temple, Mormon temple, Seventh Day Adventist church or dozens of local secular service organizations.

According to media reports, the directory was paid for by local churches. Its introduction is signed by Greece School Board President Julia VanOrman, Superintendent Steve Achramovitch and the Rev. George Grace, the minister of First Bible Baptist Church. Grace also chairs the school board’s “Faith Community Committee,” a committee of Christian pastors and school board members formed last year.

The NYCLU’s public records request seeks records regarding this committee and communications relating to the creation, generation and distribution of the directory.

Greece is the seventh largest school district in the state, and serves approximately 13,000 students.