Church may continue to worship at WHS

The congregation of Golden Corner Church may continue to rent Walhalla High School as a place of worship, even though Oconee School District leadership admitted a failure to follow policy governing the use of facilities after school hours. Dr. Mike Lucas, county superintendent, apologized and accepted the blame last night after the issue was raised by Seneca resident Kevin Larkin during the public comment session of the school board meeting. The board voted to make an exception to its policy to allow the Golden Corner Church the use of the high school until December of 2014, but stipulated the church must provide periodic reports on its effort to find a permanent location of its own. According to Lucas’s explanation to trustees, individual principals have authority to authorize use of facilities for up to a year’s time. Beyond that, however, district approval is required.