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Parents, residents urge district to drop LifeWise curriculum during public comment
Summary
Three public commenters at the Aug. 19 Everett School Board meeting urged the district to end use of the LifeWise program, framing it as religious indoctrination; board members did not take action at the meeting.
Three members of the public used the audience-comment period at the Aug. 19 Everett Public Schools board meeting to press the board to end the district's relationship with the LifeWise program, describing it as religiously based instruction that should not be taught in public schools.
Janine Demare (spelled "Demare" in public remarks) told the board she was "disheartened" that LifeWise would still be allowed in schools and framed the matter as a threat to democracy and civic values. She urged the board to "do something now," saying that failing to act would be remembered by history.
Jennifer Phillips McClellan said other districts had approached her about Everett's inaction and warned that Everett's decision not to remove LifeWise could encourage similar policies elsewhere. McClellan said the board's silence would create a legacy of "Christian nationalism" and "othering" of students who do not share LifeWise views; she noted three board members up for election and said voters were observing the board's choices.
Tom Clark, who identified himself as a parent of two Everett Public Schools students, said he is a Christian but opposed LifeWise, which he called "indoctrinating our children." Clark said the program undermines the district's stated commitments to diversity and inclusion and asked the board to "get rid of this dangerous program."
Board President Mitchell reminded speakers that the public comment period is for the board to listen and that board members do not respond during the comment period. No board action on LifeWise was taken at the Aug. 19 meeting; board discussion and any policy decisions would require a separate agenda item and formal action.
The meeting record shows the board allotted three minutes per speaker during the public-comment period and that the board stated it records comments for its records. The three commenters emphasized that their concerns had been raised repeatedly at previous meetings and urged the board and the community to change course.
The remarks at the Aug. 19 meeting illustrate ongoing community debate over LifeWise and similar outside curricular programs. The board did not address the program in the course of its business at this meeting beyond receiving the public comments.
