PEORIA, AZ -- Members of the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board say they're consulting an attorney for advice when it comes to the advertisement on the back of the high school football field billboard.
The billboard, which contains the words, "Journey Church" in addition to "Liberty Lions" and the church's hours, is visible from the road as one approaches Liberty High School near 97th Avenue and Deer Valley Road.
According to the church pastor, the group paid more than $1,000 for the advertising space, in an effort to give back to the school.
They said they bought the space from the football boosters club.
The church also rents space at the school for services on the weekend.
Diane Douglas, Governing Board president, said the Board started reviewing the advertisement when someone raised concerns about separation of church and state laws.
Douglas said the school board is expecting an answer from the attorney sometime soon.
According to a spokesperson for the Arizona School Board Association, Chris Thomas, the director of legal services, said the issue is more about freedom of speech rather than the separation of church and state.
Several other sponsorship advertisements are hanging inside the football and baseball stadium, including advertisements for Walmart and Chili's.
Meanwhile, a new law takes effect in November, giving school districts the right to sell advertising space on their website.
