WHITE OAK, Texas – A Texas school superintendent is standing up to legal threats from an atheist organization over a high school principal’s penchant for quoting Bible verses during the morning announcements.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has sent a series of letters to Michael Gilbert, superintendent of the White Oak Independent School District over a variety of allegedly illegal breaches of the U.S. Constitution. Earlier this year, FFRF complained to the district about alleged coach-led prayers and prayers over the loud speaker at the school’s football games, which turned out to be a farce.

On March 5, FFRF sent another letter to the district after a student recorded White Oak High School Principal Dan Noll quoting Bible verses during the morning announcements, KNUE 101.5 reports.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

“We have received additional information that the high school is impermissibly endorsing Christianity. Our complainant informed us that Dan Noll, the school’s principal, regularly reads bible verses during the morning announcements,” the letter read, followed by examples Noll has cited from Proverbs and Luke.

“We are confident that an investigation will reveal that Mr. Noll’s bible readings have in fact taken place,” the letter continued. “If confirmed, the practice is flatly unconstitutional and cannot continue.”

After citing a series of court precedent, FFRF attempts to tell school officials how it is.

“… Principal Noll, acting in his official capacity as a White Oaks (sic) ISD employee, must not broadcast a decidedly religious message to a captive student audience, thereby isolating and excluding those students who are non-Christian or nonreligious,” the letter stated.

“Principal Noll must be instructed not to include bible passages or other religious endorsements in any future morning announcements. The school should apologize to its students and explain why it is inappropriate for the school to endorse Christianity, or any other religion, or nonreligion. Please respond promptly, in writing, to inform us of the steps that the school and the District take to remedy this constitutional violation.”

Undoubtedly, White Oak superintendent Michael Gilbert’s response was not what FFRF had in mind.

MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes

Gilbert’s reply, as quoted by KNUE:

Recently, I have been contacted by two concerned residents of White Oak ISD and legal counsel from the Freedom From Religion Foundation concerning the use of scripture in the “Thought for the Day” at the high school.

The residents were offended at the use of scripture, demanding that it be stopped and calling for disciplinary action against Mr. Noll. I am fully aware of the practice at the high school and will not pursue any action against our High School Principal or any other member of our faculty/staff concerning this issue.

The letter from the FFRF is not the first received by the district. They contacted us in the fall with concerns about the practices at our football games. I have responded in accordance with their stated concerns and we have moved on.

Let me be clear, this is an attempt to draw us into a contest of words for the sole purpose of giving the FFRF a large amount of free press/recognition that they and their very few members (1,200 in Texas) do not deserve. This group and others like it, are wanting us to provide them with negative quotes to use in the promotion of their agenda. We can and will make the adjustments needed to ensure our students experience a morally sound, positive character based education. There are a multitude of options to provide our students, faculty and staff the opportunity to express their First Amendment Rights as provided for in the United States Constitution. Let me also be clear that we have not (in my opinion) violated anyone’s rights and/or subjected anyone to undue stress. Bible studies and scriptures are allowed in schools. The requirement is that the material be presented in a neutral manner. It is my position that we met that standard with the morning announcements.

My recommended response to the FFRF is, “I’m sorry you feel that way. I will be praying for you and your staff daily.”

Finally, as a Christian Brother, it will not promote the values we hold so dear to assail those that disagree with the Gospel. We will state our case. We will make sure our rights are just as protected as anyone else that lives in this great country. We will continue to provide for all the needs of our students and we will do so while traveling the High Road. Don’t get drawn into a game of words that has no “winner.”

Please do not waste your time and effort on these few detractors.

News of FFRF’s issue with Noll’s announcements has also served to rally the community around the principal, with many students and staff switching their Facebook and Twitter avatars to an “I support Dan Noll” image bearing the White Oak school logo, KETK news reports.

Noll, meanwhile, has expressed gratitude for those who have come to his defense.

“Thank you for all the kinds words, love and support,” Noll said, according to KNUE. “I love my students and I love the staff. I never doubt where the community stands because they will always come together.”