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Parents, faith leaders urge Everett board to limit Lifewise off‑campus pullout during school hours
Summary
At the Sept. 9 Everett Public Schools board meeting, multiple parents, a local rabbi and other residents told the board they oppose Lifewise Academy removing students from school during instructional hours, citing separation of church and state, student safety and peer division.
Sept. 9, 2025 — Everett Public Schools Board of Directors heard multiple public comments urging the district to prevent Lifewise Academy from removing students from school during instructional hours and to restrict the program to non‑school hours.
Speakers told the board Lifewise’s current arrangements create peer divisions and risk privileging one religious viewpoint during the school day. Rabbi Rachel Court, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Orr in Everett, said the program “is a disruption for community building, for all students at Emerson Elementary School.” She added, “The separation of church and state is critical for the protection of our Jewish community.”
Why it matters: Commenters framed the issue as both a legal‑civic one (the district’s obligation to keep public schools neutral in religious matters) and a practical safety concern (students leaving and re‑entering campus). Deanna Hansen, who identified herself as a former public school teacher and current clinic owner in Everett, urged the board to “reconsider allowing this academy to use school hours for their program,” saying that experience in a similar program “taught me not unity, but division.”
Board context and what speakers asked for: Several speakers acknowledged the board’s stated position that a parent or guardian is the person who formally releases a child from school, but they said Lifewise’s coordination with families produces the same outcome—religious instruction during the school day. Lindsay (last name not specified), a parent and longtime Everett resident, said, “If Lifewise or any other religious organization wishes to offer instruction, I feel like they’re welcome to do so after school hours just like any other extracurricular activity,” and raised concerns that “allowing students to leave and reenter campus for off‑site religious instruction complicates our efforts to keep them safe.” Eric Osovski, a parent, said he was “concerned that it was gonna go down the down to their beliefs” and that that “doesn't promote a nonjudgment type of atmosphere.”
What the board said or did: Board members did not take formal action at the Sept. 9 meeting on Lifewise. Board President Mitchell (meeting chair) said the district will respond in writing to a requested written comment that could not be read aloud under district rules. The public‑comment segment was recorded and will be part of the district’s meeting record.
Supporting details and district practice referenced in public remarks: One board member summarized board discussion from a recent retreat, saying the district “does not give permission to any organization to release [students]. It must be a parent or guardian who makes that decision.” Commenters responded that, in practice, Lifewise’s coordination with families still results in students being pulled from campus during the day.
Voices of record: Quotes in this article come from public commenters who spoke during the Sept. 9 public‑comment period and are recorded in the meeting transcript.
Ending: The board did not announce a policy change at the meeting; commenters said they expect the district to follow up in writing and to consider whether Lifewise should be restricted to non‑instructional hours going forward.
