Blount County board sends Bible release-time policy template to policy committee after public debate

The Blount County Board of Education voted to send a policy template for a Bible release-time program offered by the Elgin Children’s Foundation to its policy committee for further development and a pilot, after extensive public comment and board discussion.

Public commenters offered sharply divided views. Alita Ledendecker, speaking against the proposal, warned that "removing students from class for an hour each week will have a negative effect on academics" and described the plan as "divisive." Several other speakers raised logistical and legal concerns, with one resident asking whether transporting students off campus for an hour would be feasible and how volunteers would be vetted.

Supporters urged accommodation and cited constitutional protections. David Barth quoted Justice William O. Douglas’s majority opinion from a 1952 Supreme Court decision and argued the program can be legally accommodated in public schools.

Board discussion focused on three recurring concerns: loss of instructional time, student safety while off campus, and legal liability for the district. Director Ridge told the board that the draft handbook and MOU with Elgin call for background checks and transportation arrangements and said, "inside that state law, it makes very clear that the district, the board, the school system has no legal liability or responsibility from the time they step on that bus until they get back to the classroom for any outside, religious opportunity release time." The director and multiple board members also emphasized a staged approach: develop a locally tailored policy, pilot it at a small number of schools with proximate partner churches, and return to the full board for approval.

After discussion, a board member moved to send the Elgin template to the policy committee to work with the director on a policy and pilot plan. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the policy committee will review the template with district staff and return a draft policy and implementation recommendations to the board; no districtwide implementation or pilot schedule was specified at the meeting.