Worthington board schedules substantive review of release‑time religious‑instruction policy; requests Lifewise curriculum

The Worthington Schools board’s policy committee told trustees on Oct. 20 that it will bring a substantive discussion about Policy 05/2023 (release time for religious instruction) to the full board, and requested curriculum materials and legal review in advance.

Why it matters: The policy governs whether and how students can be released during the school day for off‑site religious instruction. The committee said it wants to reconcile the district’s written policy language with local practice and to review curriculum content cited by community members before any decision or formal vote.

What the board asked for and timeline

• Materials requested: The policy committee asked Lifewise (an outside provider mentioned by commenters) to share its curriculum with the board in advance of the full discussion so trustees can review content that community members raised as potentially problematic.

• Legal and policy review: The board requested copies of the district’s current policy and Neola’s template language so trustees can compare adopted language to template guidance and confirm whether local practice conflicts with policy text (committee members noted a sentence in the current policy that prohibits solicitation for attendance on district premises). The board said it will consult its attorneys to clarify whether policy language or practice needs revision.

• Scheduling and process: The committee recommended the matter be discussed at the board’s Nov. 13 meeting as a substantive discussion only; the board agreed no vote will be taken at that meeting and any policy change would follow the standard first‑ and second‑reading process at subsequent meetings.

Community concerns and board context

Committee members said some community comments described Lifewise materials as conveying messages perceived by some as hostile to LGBTQ+ families or divorced parents. Committee members emphasized that if students are pulled from instruction during the school day and exposed to material at odds with district values of inclusion, the board should evaluate whether policy language, practice, or curricular content needs modification.

Next steps

Lifewise will be asked to share the curriculum; the district will provide the existing policy language and Neola template to trustees in advance of the Nov. 13 discussion. The board will not vote on policy changes at that meeting; any proposed revisions will follow the board’s regular policy adoption timeline.