The Mesa Public Schools Governing Board is changing its long-standing practice of starting meetings with a prayer. Spokeswoman Helen Holland says on the advice of legal counsel, meetings will now begin with a moment of silence.

“It reflects the current practice in classrooms across the district,” Holland said. “It is reflective of what we do every day in every classroom.”

The move comes in advance of a United States Supreme Court case that could change the way public prayer is viewed by governmental bodies from Mesa to Washington. Holland says the policy change will remain in effect indefinitely.