Southwest Licking Local Schools Violates Own RTRI Board Policy
Public schools have become Lifewise's playground. They have been allowed to violate school board policies, state law, and federal law. School employees have been integral to this lack of oversight.
Lifewise Academy has operated in the Southwest Licking Local School District (Pataskala, OH) since October 2024. The local school board policy on released-time religious instruction (RTRI) was adopted in November 2024. The policy says that the school and the RTRI program must have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the school district. This MOU was never created and signed by Lifewise Academy.
The policy also states that the RTRI program “will complete a background check equivalent to the District's.” During the December 19, 2024, board meeting, a board member asked to see the background checks and the MOU. These requests were never fulfilled because they do not exist. The board was aware that they were violating the policy.
The school board president recently decided to address the issue, but it’s unclear whether or when the board will do so.
You can fall on any end of the spectrum when it comes to your thoughts on schools coordinating with RTRI and releasing students during the school day. But everyone should agree that school board policies should be followed at all times.
The district has a board policy that requires Lifewise staff to complete specific criminal background checks. These are not clerical or scheduling issues. These are policies that parents would assume are being followed, but are clearly not.
Anyone connected/associated/employed by the entity will complete a background check equivalent to the District's.
Public schools have become Lifewise Academy’s playground. They have been allowed to violate school board policies, state law, and federal law. School employees have been integral to this lack of oversight. If the board of education cannot hold Lifewise accountable, the same disregard for policies and laws regarding RTRI will be ignored at all levels.
Read more at https://respectpublicschools.com/
Read the article below about a school district that integrated with Lifewise and allowed students to be negatively impacted by Lifewise.