FFRF Tells Lifewise Academy to Stop Bible Classes On School Property
Lifewise Academy has operated a released-time Bible study program on the school property since August 2022. The Bible classes are held at the Community Center on the school grounds. The community center is located in the old high school, next to the current K-12 building, which opened in 2004. The district still owns the former building, which is on school property. The district uses the bus garage, gymnasium, and other spaces. The building is closed to the public from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday - Friday.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation recently sent a letter to Elmwood Local Schools instructing them to cease allowing Lifewise to use the building on school property.
Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.6022 states the bible classes must be “conducted by a private entity off school district property.” The Supreme Court case Zorach v. Clauson, which Lifewise Academy uses as the basis for its existence, mandates that the program must be off school grounds. Lifewise Academy has stated that it must operate off school property. Watch the montage of Lifewise employees stating Lifewise operates “off school property.”
The school district and Lifewise have a lease agreement until 2026. The latest agreement is from 2023-2026 and charges Lifewise $4,500 a year for use of the space. This agreement is between the school district and Lifewise. Not a community center. Full lease agreement.
The lease between Elmwood Schools and Lifewise also states that Lifewise will arrange for and be responsible for telephone and internet services. The district allowed Lifewise to use the district’s internet and phones.
The school district has been aware of the issues with Lifewise since September 2023, probably earlier. An email between Superintendent Tony Borton and Lifewise shows they were told that the program cannot be on school property, but the superintendent feels it’s ok because they pay rent. The school district also set up an email for Lifewise, gave them internet access, and access to phones. If leasing space to Lifewise is ok, it would be assumed that the school could have charged for the other services, and that would have also been ok. Read the email.
Borton asked Lifewise employees and school staff to tone down the religious communications until the school is “not under the radar.” Borton also states that the school has “spent enough on legal” over the religious issues. The emails also show how Lifewise sends students back to school with cards to hand out to the other students.
The superintendent contacted a corporate Lifewise employee shortly after this, informing them that they are facing legal issues regarding the program. A school board member asked the superintendent to send this email. It’s not clear what was discussed, but the school board, administration, and Lifewise were all aware of the program's problems since 2023.
Several months after the school board, administration, and teachers were all aware of the problems with Lifewise operating on school property and using school resources such as email, internet, and phones, the superintendent let staff know that the district is crossing the line with regard to religious announcements in the school.
Superintendent Threatens Staff With Disciplinary Action for Lifewise Postings
In 2023 and 2024, Elwmood Schools was challenged regarding its use of school property and resources for Lifewise. The district and administration were assisting Lifewise by allowing them on school property and providing access to the internet, phones, etc. During this same period, the superintendent threatened employees for posting about Lifewise. Read the email.
The school board and administration were breaking Ohio statute and federal case law. Lifewise local and corporate staff were also aware of the problems. No action was ever taken against the administration, but the school teachers and staff were being reprimanded for following the administration's example.
Students on IEP Asked to Forfeit Hours
Students on IEPs could have their hours met during the same period that the district allowed Lifewise to operate. The school day is structured to give all teachers, aides, and special needs staff access to students so they can meet each student's needs. When Lifewise started, the special needs staff were unable to meet all IEP requirements. The school created a form to release itself from any legal liability for failing to meet the IEP requirements.
The Legal Requirements
Released time programs, like Lifewise, are legal when operated in accordance with federal, state, and school board policies. Zorach vs. Clauson (1952), the Supreme Court case that upheld released time as being legal. The case was heavily decided based on the premise that the school was not doing anything more than releasing students to attend a religious instruction program.
“The present record indeed tells us that the school authorities are neutral in this regard, and do no more than release students whose parents so request. If, in fact, coercion were used, if it were established that any one or more teachers were using their office to persuade or force students to take the religious instruction, a wholly different case would be presented.”
Zorach vs Clauson (1952)
At a local planning meeting for Lifewise in the neighboring Lakota School District (Kansas, OH), Lifewise board members and volunteers from the Lifewise Elmwood program also attended. The representatives from Elmwood also commented that attendance varies across classes and grades, but those classes with Christian teachers have higher enrollment. The class Elmwood chose to remove students from to attend Lifewis is library. The Elmwood Lifewise representatives also said the librarian was not happy about this, but “they got over it.”
The level of cooperation and assistance between the Elmwood Local School District and Lifewise Academy is not in compliance with the ruling in the federal case or Ohio law. Both the school district and Lifewise have been aware of this for years. Both have communicated about it, and both have ignored it. Public schools are to remain neutral, and Elmwood is not.
Read more and see the Lifewise Academy map at https://respectpublicschools.com/