Westerville schools rescinds religious release policy

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Westerville City School District has rescinded a policy that allows absences for religious instruction during the school day.    

In a 4-0 vote, with one abstention, the Westerville school board voted to halt the practice, with members saying previously that pulling students from the school day was a disruption and distraction for all students. 

Before Monday’s vote, a Bible-based education program called LifeWise Academy took about 300 Westerville elementary school students out of recess and lunch once a week for religious instruction. It was the only religious education-based group operating in the Westerville school district and had been in the district for two years. 

"We're saddened that they, the board, has voted to take away religious liberty from parents," LifeWise Academy CEO Joel Penton said.

Watch: Westerville schools rescinds religious release policy

"This isn't about religion," Westerville parent Jaclyn Fraley said. "This isn't about one religious group against another religious group, believers versus nonbelievers. This is about having our students united together during the school day, learning from our educators for the entire school day."

LifeWise, headquartered in Hilliard, provides what it calls "Bible-based character education" for an hour a week during the school day. It currently operates in more than 350 schools in 26 states.

Hundreds of supporters both in favor of the policy and those who wanted to see it rescinded attended Monday’s board meeting, with attendees lining up outside the building to get in. Supporters of LifeWise wore red t-shirts, with some arriving in LifeWise-branded buses. Those in favor of rescinding the policy wore black t-shirts.

Before the vote, more than 30 people spoke during nearly three hours of public comment.

"Our focus with rescinding this policy was bringing inclusion back into our schools and having our kids be a cohesive in a unit and staying in school for the entire school day," Fraley said.

The board said it is open to after-school programs.

"We really feel like this is an important option for making it equitable for all families in our school district," LifeWise Program Coordinator for the district Jennifer Jury said. "A large number of the families that we've served the last two years, come from, socio-economic background that would limit them being able to participate if it took place before or after school."

LifeWise is backing Ohio House Bill 445, which would amend current law to change the word "may" to "shall," which would force public schools to permit programs like LifeWise to operate in every public school. The bill currently sits in House committee and has not been put to a vote.