Worthington Schools is considering current policies that enable LifeWise

The headlines in this article have been updated.

A Worthington Schools board committee will meet Friday to discuss existing policies that allow groups like LifeWise to teach students the Bible during the school day.

According to the meeting notice, the Worthington school board’s policy committee will meet Friday afternoon to discuss the district’s policy regarding religious leave time, although it is unclear what actions or discussions the committee may undertake regarding the existing policy. The meeting notice said the committee may “discuss, review and/or consider modifications to board policy.”

A district spokesman confirmed the committee plans to discuss the policy, but a board representative was unable to provide further comment.

The state’s largest beneficiary of the religious leave policy is Hilliard-based LifeWise, which provides Bible education to public school students during school hours. The program transports students outside the school premises, is financed from private funds and with the consent of parents, often during optional classes.

The discussion in Worthington comes just a month after the Westerville City Schools board met voted to repeal the term for religious exemption policy that was preceded by hours of meetings with interested community members on both sides of the issue speaking during public comments.

The Worthington Schools Committee meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road.

What is the religious leave period?

In the United States, school districts may offer the option of time off for religious instruction under the 1948 U.S. Supreme Court case, McCollum v. Board of Education, and the 1952 decision, Zorach v. Clauson, The shipment has already informed.

Although districts are not required to have a religious release policy, some state legislators have introduced legislation that would amend state law to require districts to adopt a religious release policy. The shipment has already informed.

Discussion of Westerville’s religious liberation policy has sparked controversy

In early October, the Westerville City Schools board voted unanimously, with one abstention, to remove the policy, with the board president emphasizing that the decision was not against any religion, but raised the possibility of significant disruption to the district if additional organizations that release religiosity. district.

The vote came after more than two hours of public comment from supportive and opposition speakers, as well as numerous crowded meetings and public appearances. LifeWise supporters throughout the discussion wore red while many of the opposition wore black, and the comments were met with applause from both sides.

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