At the commencement ceremony in May 2005, one of the principals with the Charlo School District began the ceremony with a prayer, in clear violation of US Supreme Court precedent on separation of church and state, and statewide school policies. Charlo School District agreed to settle the informal complaint by requiring training of all of its faculty, by reviewing their local policy to assure its constitutionality and by a letter to the complainant that her concerns had been addressed. As part of the training, the ACLU of Montana brought to Montana, Charles Haynes, a nationally recognized expert on separation of church and state issues. He provided training not only to the faculty and staff at Charlo School District, but also in coordination with the Montana Teachers Association, gave a presentation in Missoula.
