<p>What started out as an idea to promote nonviolence among high school students using locally born sports celebrities sparked heated controversy at the Escambia County School Board's Tuesday meeting.</p>
<p>From concerns about loss of academic time and the opportunity to proselytize to accusations of discrimination and comparisons to Nazi attacks on Jewish businesses and synagogues, the debate culminated in a 3-2 vote to reject a request to allow the "Ultimate Pep Rally" to occur on school time.</p>