At the close of the event, Pastor Lisa Newberry of First Presbyterian Church asked attendees to write down on “seed paper” the change they wanted to see in Baraboo. If they weren’t comfortable writing it down, Newberry encouraged attendees to place their intentions on paper, because “we trust that God does not only read graphite, but also reads our hearts and minds.”

The pieces of paper were buried in pots supplied at the event to become flowers, which Newberry said would be disbursed around town.

Both the school district and the city posted invitations to the program to their social media accounts.

After the program, school board member Doug Mering said he didn’t think the clergy members were promoting any particular religion. He had previously emphasized he was speaking as a concerned citizen and not for the board.

Mueller later replied to an email from the Baraboo News Republic asking how the speakers were chosen and if the prayers conflicted with religious liberty laws.

“Community, civic, faith, and school leaders collaborated on hosting this community event at Baraboo High School and, as such, co-planned the program and selected the speakers,” she wrote. She did not address religion.