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    • Worthington Schools to Evaluate Current Policy That Allows LifeWise
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    Worthington Schools to Evaluate Current Policy That Allows LifeWise

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    The headlines on this story have been updated.

    A committee of the Worthington Schools Board of Trustees will meet Friday to discuss an existing policy that allows groups like LifeWise to teach students the Bible during the school day.

    According to a meeting notice, the Worthington School Board’s policy committee will meet Friday afternoon to discuss the district’s policy on religious release time, although it is unclear what action or discussion the committee might take action on existing policy. The meeting notice states that the committee may “discuss, review and/or consider changes to board policy.”

    A district spokesperson confirmed the committee plans to discuss the policy, but a board representative was not available for further comment.

    The largest user of religious liberation policies in the state is Hilliard-based LifeWise, which gives public school students a biblical education during school hours. The program transports students out of school, is privately funded and authorized by parents, often during an elective class period.

    Worthington’s discussion comes just a month after the Westerville City Schools board meeting. voted to repeal its religious liberation hour policy, which was preceded by hours of meetings of concerned community members from both sides of the issue, speaking out during public comment.

    More: Red vs. Black: As LifeWise divides Westerville schools, board of trustees must vote on program’s future

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

    How long does religious liberation last?

    In the United States, school districts may provide the opportunity to free time for religious instruction, consistent with the 1948 United States Supreme Court case, McCollum v. Board of Education, and the 1952 decision, Zorach v. Clauson, The Dispatch previously reported.

    Although districts are not required to have policies allowing religious release, some state legislators have proposed legislation that would amend state law to require districts to adopt a policy allowing religious release, The Dispatch previously reported.

    Discussion of religious liberation policy in Westerville sparked controversy

    In early October, the Westerville City School Board voted unanimously with one abstention to remove the policy. The council president stressed that the decision was not against any religion, but cited the potential for significant disruption in the district if other religious liberation organizations entered the area. district.

    The vote came after more than two hours of public comments from speakers for and against, and after multiple packed crowd meetings and public testimony. Throughout the discussions, LifeWise supporters wore red, while many opponents wore black, and the comments were met with applause from their respective sides.

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