Friday town hall to discuss plans to launch off-campus Bible studies during Salem school hours

SALEM A town hall meeting is scheduled for Friday to discuss concerns about a program that would allow Salem City Schools students to attend Bible lessons off campus during school hours. The event, set for 5 p.m. at the Salem Historical Society, aims to inform the community about the program and its potential impact on public education.

LifeWise Academy is a "religious release-time" initiative that permits students to leave school grounds during instructional hours for Bible-based lessons.

Organizers for the town hall include Heather Smith, a Youngstown City Schools teacher and candidate for the Salem City School Board; Rachel Snell, a former LifeWise volunteer; and Shane Russo, lead organizer for ACTION of Mahoning Valley.

In a news release, Snell stated that the organizers, despite their diverse backgrounds, are "united in our purpose to prevent all children and communities from becoming victims." Snell stated that she hopes the meeting will inform the Salem community about the implications of partnering with LifeWise Academy and highlight other potential options.

This meeting follows a period of contradictory statements. While LifeWise Academy's website states that programs are being launched at Salem Junior High and Southeast Elementary schools, officials in the Salem School District have denied any formal agreement.

Salem City School Board President Brittany Maniscalco told 21 News earlier that the district has no affiliation with LifeWise but will comply with Ohio House Bill 8, which permits religious instruction during school hours.

Supporters of Ohio House Bill 8, also known as the Parents' Bill of Rights, say the law was enacted to enhance parental involvement in public schools. The legislation addresses various topics, including parental notification on student health, well-being, and instructional materials with sexual content. It also specifically pertains to "released time" courses for religious instruction.

Ohio public school boards are now mandated to adopt a policy that allows students to be excused for released-time religious instruction, meaning a district like Salem cannot simply prohibit a program like LifeWise Academy from operating if it meets the criteria.

A student can only be excused with the written consent of a parent or guardian. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of public funds or personnel for the instruction, placing all financial responsibility and liability on the sponsoring entity, such as LifeWise Academy.

The instruction must also occur off-campus, with the sponsoring entity, parent, guardian, or student responsible for transportation.

Students cannot be released from a "core curriculum subject course" and must take responsibility for any schoolwork they miss. Furthermore, the bill allows high school students to earn up to two units of high school credit for a released-time religious course, provided the course is evaluated using the same secular standards applied to other non-public courses.