Two civil liberties groups sued the board last month over its decision not to remove a picture of Jesus from Bridgeport High School.

"And I do not want to spend taxpayers' dollars, says school board member Sally Cann. "But even if we have a free organization, does that make them the best organization to represent us? I don't think so, necessarily. I mean, I don't know how to go about it."

This comes after six groups have offered free legal counsel to keep this portrait of Jesus up at Bridgeport High School. Among them: the Mississippi-based American Family Association. "This is more than just a painting," says Kevin McCoy, a local AFA representative. "It's about basically trying to undermine the values of folks all across this country."

The school board's attorney, though, says if the board were to lose the suit, it would have to pay for court costs.

Or rather, taxpayers would have to pay for court costs.

The AFA is confident that wouldn't happen -- and even if it did, the group would help raise the extra cash.

But McCoy wasn't the only one sounding off Wednesday.

For the first time in months, several of the portrait's opponent publicly chastised the school board for its failure to remove the picture.

"I feel that this issue is dividing the community and we need to respect all religions, not just one," says Rev. Spence Carber-Leonard.

One parent says his son asked school officials to get rid of it in 1998 -- and that request fell on deaf ears.

"I think it's clear why this painting is up and why it's here," says Gerald Wedemeyer.

In the end, the board postponed any final decision. Its next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 3.