High School Student Wins First Amendment Battle Over Religious Parking Spot Design

Sabrina Steffans was banned from painting her school parking bay with Bible verses and crosses

A high school senior in Buffalo, New York, has won a major legal victory after being initially banned from painting her assigned parking spot with Bible verses and crosses. Sabrina Steffans, a student at Grand Island High School, paid for the right to decorate her senior parking space but was told her religious-themed designs would not be allowed.

Steffans submitted three designs, two of which featured Bible verses, crosses, and imagery inspired by Salvation Mountain. School officials rejected both, approving only a non-religious option. After being denied the opportunity to display her faith, Steffans turned to First Liberty Institute, a religious liberty legal organization, which argued that her First Amendment rights were being violated.

A legal intervention by First Liberty, a religious liberty group, helped her force the school into reversing its decision

First Liberty sent a demand letter to the school, asserting that students have a constitutional right to include religious elements in personal expressions such as parking space decorations. Following the intervention, the Grand Island Central School District reversed its decision, allowing Steffans to use her original design with Bible verses and crosses.

“We are pleased the school district changed course and will allow Sabrina to truly express her deeply held beliefs in her design,” said Keisha Russell, senior counsel at First Liberty. “The First Amendment protects students’ private expressions of faith in public schools.”

The group then sent a demand letter to the school, asserting her constitutional right to include religious elements in her parking spot

District Superintendent Brian Graham confirmed the decision, noting that it was made after consultation with legal counsel. He emphasized that while the district disputes any violation of student rights, it remains committed to balancing inclusivity with constitutional protections.

“The Board of Education and District leadership, after careful consultation with legal counsel, have decided that the student in question will be permitted to proceed with her original senior parking space design,” Graham said. He added that the district would review its parking decoration policies to prevent similar disputes in the future.