Two things happened a year ago that are impacting Los Gatos this week.

The first occurred June 14, 2014, when the U.S. Supreme Court let stand an appeals court ruling that a Wisconsin high school violated the U.S. Constitution when it held graduation ceremonies in a church.

The second occurred on June 16, 2014. That’s the day the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the Los Gatos Union School District protesting the fact that Fisher Middle School’s 2014 graduation was held at the Calvary Church on Los Gatos Boulevard.

As a result of the foundation’s letter, Fisher’s 2015 graduation ceremony was held June 4 at Oak Meadow Park.

“Regarding the use of Calvary, unfortunately the district received notification by the Freedom From Religion Foundation citing case law against the use of facilities in churches,” Los Gatos Union School District superintendent Diana Abbatti wrote in an email. “The district has been advised by legal counsel that the district must find alternative, appropriate and secular locations for student-related activities. The district did what was best for its students, using its financial resources to support student programs and not pursue litigation.”

The FFRF letter said the foundation was contacted by “a local resident” regarding the “troubling” use of Calvary.

The foundation did not threaten to sue the school district, but its letter cited numerous court rulings on the subject, including Doe v. Elmwood School District. That’s the Wisconsin case the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that “the same risk that children in particular will perceive the state as endorsing a set of religious beliefs is present both when exposure to a pervasively religious environment occurs in the classroom and when government summons students to an off site location for important ceremonial events.”

Foundation attorney Andrew Seidel asked to be informed in writing of steps the district planned to take “to ensure that future graduation ceremonies take place in a secular location which respects the freedom of conscience of all graduates, their friends, teachers and families.”

Van Meter Elementary School was also impacted by the switch from Calvary, which held its 2014 fifth-grade promotion ceremony at the church. Thursday’s ceremony was instead held “on the blacktop” at Van Meter.

“I am an atheist, and many of the people I have spoken to aren’t Christian or religious and are angry we cannot use Calvary or have any input over the decision,” Van Meter parent Terry McBriarty said.

McBriarty said the FFRF letter also impacted the Van Meter variety show, which was moved from Calvary to the school’s multi-purpose room.

“I went to the third variety show; it was packed,” McBriarty said. “I was late, and spent most of the show sitting on the floor in a dress.”

The reason Calvary has been used so extensively is because the ever-growing school district doesn’t have a big enough facility for large gatherings of students and/or parents. But that problem may soon be solved because an addition to the Fisher gymnasium is now under construction. It’s expected to be completed early next year and will be big enough to accommodate the entire Fisher student body.

Fisher’s enrollment at the end of March was 1,240 students.