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Residents and clergy urge Everett School Board to rescind release-time religious instruction amid Lifewise controversy
Summary
Multiple parents, teachers and local clergy told the Everett School Board during public comment that Lifewise Academy’s pull‑out religious classes create division, anxiety and unbalanced access; speakers urged rescinding the district’s release‑time for religious instruction (RTRI) policy.
Everett — Parents, retired teachers and clergy urged the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors on June 10 to rescind the district’s release‑time for religious instruction policy and to halt Lifewise Academy’s pull‑out classes during the school day.
“Their method seems to be an opportunistic 1. Their mission is akin to the metaphor of the camel coming into the tent,” said Kathleen Bergler, a North Everett resident, during the public‑comment period, criticizing Lifewise for what she described as incremental expansion into schools. “Separation of church and state however, is not a suggestion. Is it's a foundational imperative,” Bergler added.
The speakers said Lifewise runs organized, in‑school pickups that remove children from class time for religious instruction. Dana Sanders, whose children attend Emerson Elementary, asked the board to ensure equal access if programs are permitted, saying principals have spent hours negotiating how much staff time can be used without disrupting instruction. “How do we make sure that we are equitably having those programs exist in multiple schools so that all children are receiving the same services and experience?” Sanders asked.
Retired Everett teacher Susan Gaskin said children should not be taken out of mandated recess or other instructional time. “No presence of life wise vehicles should be on campus at any time,” she told the board, and urged that such activities take place before or after school as with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Multiple parents described emotional impact on students. Janine Desmaris relayed a parent report that her child became anxious on days he attended Lifewise and that staff were told by Lifewise to require parental opt‑out permission slips. “Can somebody tell me why Lifewise has been granted this kind of power over our children in the day to day operations of our schools?” Desmaris asked.
Speakers included religious leaders who also objected. Rabbi David Fine, speaking online, said removing children during class time creates division: “Taking kids out of school is de facto support of religion,” he said, and asked the board to rescind policies that permit organized pull‑outs.
Board President Mitchell said the board would collect written comments and respond; no formal board action on RTRI or Lifewise was taken during the meeting. Several speakers asked the board to rescind the district’s RTRI policy; others asked the board to ensure consistent, district‑wide rules about outside programs that pull students from class.
The public‑comment portion of the meeting included nine in‑person speakers and one online speaker who addressed Lifewise and RTRI; the board clerk said public comments are recorded and will be provided to the board for consideration.
No motion, vote or administrative directive to change policy was recorded during the meeting. Board members did not debate individual public comments at length during public comment; the board’s agenda later continued with scheduled presentations and routine business.
