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Parents and residents spar over Lifewise release-time proposal at Escambia County School Board public forum
Summary
At the Escambia County School Board’s October 2025 public forum parents and residents delivered contrasting testimony over a proposed Lifewise Academy release-time religious instruction program that would remove participating students from campus during the school day.
Several residents at the Escambia County School Board’s October 2025 public forum urged the district to reject a proposed Lifewise Academy release-time program that would let students leave campus during the school day for religious instruction, while a program advocate said parental rights and precedent support the proposal.
Chelsea Mahan, a parent and Escambia County resident, told the board she opposed district participation in Lifewise because it would “separate students by religion during the school day” and could give one faith priority in district facilities. “Please, leave religious instruction to parents and churches,” Mahan said. She noted district rules currently allow release for religious instruction only in grades 9–12 and urged the board not to “take the backwards step of separating our children in these already divisive times.”
Adam Compton, another parent who identified himself as an AK Sutor parent, also opposed the proposal, saying the program’s model encourages recruitment and in-class disruption and that Lifewise’s design to operate during the school day, rather than before or after school, would be disruptive.
Not all speakers opposed the program. Rich Holznick, who described the program’s history and legal basis, urged the board to learn more. He cited the Supreme Court decision Zorach v. Clauson (1952) and said release-time instruction has been practiced in other states and that Lifewise had enrolled more than 100,000 students nationwide. Holznick invited board members and staff to a documentary screening and said he would pay admission for trustees who wished to attend.
Board members did not take a formal vote on Lifewise at the meeting. The transcript records public comment and an invitation to a community screening but no motion or action to adopt the program or to instruct staff to pursue (or reject) a district partnership.
Ending: The subject drew strong public interest and sharply divided speakers at the public forum. The board acknowledged the comments but did not issue an immediate directive; further consideration, if any, would be reflected on future agendas.
