BELTON — A Bell County judge ruled Thursday a poster made by a Killeen Independent School District employee with a biblical quote from Peanuts character Linus van Pelt in the animated holiday special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” can go back up in the school.

Judge Jack Jones, in the 146th District Court, issued a temporary restraining order against the school district removing the poster.

The poster was made by Patterson Middle School employee Dedra Shannon, an aide in the school’s nurse’s office. She hung the poster on the door of the nurse’s office, but the school’s principal ordered it to be taken down.

District officials and the Killeen school board backed the principal’s call to remove the poster.

Shannon’s legal team was celebrating the judge’s action Thursday afternoon.

“Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ like a court victory for religious freedom in December in public schools,” according to a statement from Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values and legal counsel for Shannon. “Ms. Shannon is a brave and faithful woman that we are honored to represent. This scenario is exactly why the Merry Christmas law was written — to protect teachers, staff and students in their expression of the Christmas season.”

Jones said the poster must include the words: “Ms. Shannon’s Christmas message” in a font as large as the rest of the words on the poster.

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