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Ocean City public voices safety, legal and partisan concerns about Lifewise Academy; board says proposal not before it
Summary
Residents challenged Lifewise Academy’s volunteer staffing, background checks, transportation and religious nature during public comment; board president said the program “has never been before the board” and that administration handles proposals.
Ocean City residents urged the Ocean City School District to reject or scrutinize a program called Lifewise Academy, citing safety, legal and partisan concerns, during public comment at the board meeting.
The matter matters because Lifewise is described by speakers as a religiously affiliated, volunteer-run release-time program that would remove students from district supervision during instructional hours. Residents said that, if allowed, the program could create safety and liability risks for the district and raise constitutional issues about government endorsement of religion.
Board President Barnes said the proposal has not been presented to the full board. “The proposal for Lifewise Academy is not before the board and has never been before the board,” Barnes said during his president’s remarks, adding that proposals of that type are handled by the administration under the superintendent’s guidance.
Multiple speakers in the public-comment period directly challenged the program’s staffing, vetting…
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