Parents, supporters and Lifewise director debate release‑time religious instruction during school day

Several parents at a South Madison Community School Corporation Board of Trustees meeting criticized Lifewise Academy’s proposal to provide release‑time religious instruction during the school day, saying the program disrupts instructional time and raises safety and curriculum concerns. Adrienne Murphy, identified in the meeting as Lifewise’s program director in Pendleton, and Superintendent Dr. Hall answered questions and described how the district is complying with Indiana law and its own board policy.

Parents at the meeting said Lifewise had been approaching families at two district buildings and asked the board to limit school involvement that would make it easier for students to leave campus for the program. Jennifer True said she was “surprised” to see Lifewise working with two schools, raised concerns about vetting and curriculum, and urged principals not to facilitate student removal. Stacy Milburn said the logistics of removing students during staggered lunches or specials would be disruptive and requested that any such instruction be held after school instead.

The dispute matters because release‑time programs take students off campus during the school day; parents and district officials debated whether coordination with principals is creating undue disruption and whether additional safeguards are needed. The superintendent read parts of Indiana law 20‑33‑2‑19 and a newly adopted board policy that limit what the district may do and outline requirements for cooperating with off‑site, privately funded religious instruction.

Murphy described Lifewise as a non‑denominational Christian program that offers lessons tied to character traits and said classes would be held off school property at local churches. She said Lifewise requires parental permission, that classes would be privately funded and not supported by public funds, that teachers and volunteers undergo background checks and child‑abuse training, and that the organization will maintain attendance records for inspection by attendance officers. She also said the program plans to run during lunch, recess or specials blocks and estimated students would attend about 40–45 minutes once a week to meet the statutory limit of 120 minutes per week.

Superintendent Dr. Hall told the board and public that Lifewise is not a South Madison School Corporation program and that district staff “will comply with the program just like we comply with any program that would provide religious instruction during the school day, off‑site as law requires us to do.” He said he met Lifewise representatives in October and later told principals to work with the organization to schedule times that are “the least disruptive to instructional time,” especially around the state iRead‑3 testing and required 90‑minute reading blocks. Dr. Hall read parts of Indiana Code 20‑33‑2‑19 and cited board policy (referred in the meeting as 52 53) that: (1) requires parental registration, (2) caps release time at 120 minutes per week, (3) requires the off‑site provider to keep attendance records, (4) bars solicitation on corporation premises and (5) prohibits staff from encouraging or discouraging participation.

Board members asked whether Lifewise had followed the required procedures and whether communication from Lifewise had created confusion by implying district endorsement. Dr. Hall said principals had been cooperating and that confusion appeared to stem from corporate communications that used wording suggesting district approval; he said he had urged the program to clarify that the director listed in corporate materials was not a district employee. Board members also asked where classes would be held; Murphy named Catalyst and Solid Rock churches as initial locations.

Public speakers who supported Lifewise urged the board to allow the option, arguing that moral formation and character instruction fill gaps families and communities seek. Josh Dieter read a statement submitted by another community member who described Lifewise as a source of character education and moral formation. Supporters and opponents both emphasized parental choice, but differed on whether the district’s scheduling cooperation effectively promoted the program.

The board did not take a binding vote on Lifewise at the meeting; superintendent remarks and public comment constituted the substantive action recorded. The district’s written policy and Indiana Code remain the controlling authorities for how the release‑time program may operate.

The board planned a short break and an executive session following the meeting.