Newton Local Schools Breaks Ohio Law for Lifewise Academy
Lifewise Academy was allowed to operate on school property after the Board of Education voted to suspend policies that limited access for religious groups.
The Newton Local Schools (Pleasant Hill, Ohio) suspended its policy banning religious groups from using school property during school hours. Newton did this to allow Lifewise Academy to use the school district’s field house for its religious instruction. Lifewise Academy is a fundamentalist Christian ministry that strives to remove students from classes during the school day.
The reason for Lifewise moving onto school property is not 100% clear, and requests to Lifewise asking have gone unanswered. Respect Public Schools was told there was a fire code or building inspection issue at the location where classes were being held. The classes were previously held at The Chouse, a local event space. Social media posts confirm this, and it appears the classes are back at this same location. With no report of what the building issue was.
The Newton Local School Board met on March, 24, 2025, and filed a motion to temporarily override the school board policy 7510 “USE OF DISTRICT PREMISES.” This motion did not reference the Ohio statute 3313.6022, which states,
“(A) As used in this section, "released time" means a period of time during which a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious instruction conducted by a private entity off school district property.”
A local Board of Education cannot override state law. But Lifewise has emboldened school staff and administration with the idea that anything is allowed, so long as it supports their religious beliefs. Under no circumstances should a school board pass a motion that goes against federal Supreme Court case law and Ohio statutes.
Lifewise Academy’s Comedy Act “OFF SCHOOL PROPERTY”
Read more and view the Lifewise Academy map at https://respectpublicschools.com/