Parents, clergy and advocates clash over LifeWise release‑time program at Oldham County school board meeting

Dozens of Oldham County residents urged the school board on Aug. 25 either to block or to allow LifeWise Academy to provide off‑campus “release‑time” religious instruction for students during the school day, part of a lengthy public‑comment period that produced sharply divided testimony.

The debate centered on whether parents should be allowed to enroll children in a privately funded, off‑campus program during school hours and whether the district should permit such programs in its schools. “The proposal carries real and lasting implications for our public schools,” said John Sutton, vice president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Kentucky, adding that release‑time inside the school day “blurs the line between public education and religious indoctrination.”

Supporters of LifeWise, including Jenny Bergen, a member of the local committee working to bring the program to Oldham County, said the program is voluntary, privately funded and will operate off campus with background‑checked volunteers. “No child will participate without parent permission,” Bergen said. She described a model in which students are signed out, transported off site by a vetted driver, attend a roughly hour‑long lesson and return to class without being marked absent.

Speakers opposing LifeWise raised three recurring concerns: lost instructional time, the risk of peer pressure on students who do not participate, and curriculum content. “Pulling kids out during instruction time, even with good intentions, takes away from valuable learning moments,” said Angel Hamilton, who identified herself as a teacher and parent. Several parents and teachers said students who do not attend can be left in noninstructional settings and may face social pressure to join.

Other opponents cited specific curriculum examples they said were inconsistent with their religious beliefs or could stigmatize students. “When students ask sensitive questions, Lifewise trains volunteers to refer them to parents,” said a LifeWise representative, but critics pointed to passages and statements they said could lead to exclusion or bullying. Supporters countered that the organization provides training, background checks and curriculum samples and that it does not use public funds.

Speakers on both sides also cited legal and policy questions. LifeWise leaders cited an amended Kentucky statute (KRS 158.2) requiring organizations offering moral instruction to submit a written request to local school boards. Supporters said court precedent and recent state law permit optional, off‑campus release‑time programs; opponents questioned potential entanglement with schools and long‑term administrative burden. Several speakers asked the board to consider the constitutional separation of church and state; others urged the board to respect parental choice.

Board members did not take a formal vote on LifeWise at the meeting. The record shows large public turnout and extensive testimony on both sides; several speakers asked the board to be transparent about any personal or organizational ties to LifeWise. Members repeatedly said they were reading submitted emails and would continue to study the issue. The record shows that some school‑level councils (SBDMs) have already discussed or approved local requests, but the districtwide board made no final decision during the Aug. 25 meeting.

The board’s next steps are not specified in the meeting transcript; speakers asked the board to consult legal counsel and federal or state guidance where applicable. Residents on both sides signaled they will continue engagement with the board as it evaluates policy, legal guidance and school‑level requests.

The public‑comment portion of the Aug. 25 meeting lasted more than two hours and included dozens of speakers representing parents, clergy, teachers, legal counsel and advocacy groups. The board urged speakers to be concise to allow many voices to be heard.

No formal administrative or policy action regarding LifeWise was recorded during the meeting; the issue remained under discussion after public comment concluded.