Parents clash over Lifewise program during Everett School Board public comment

Demara, a district resident, used her three minutes during public comment to urge the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors to end the district’s relationship with Lifewise, calling the organization’s materials and outreach "indoctrination" and asserting it operates as a "Christian nationalist" program in schools. She said a teacher told a parent she needed to send an opt‑out email and described a student‑distributed card that linked to Lifewise, saying that children were being "recruited" and that parents who opted their children out were not being protected. "This is yet another reason that the board should use the lawful power that it has and resend the permission that this board granted and kick Lifewise out. Lawsuit be damned," Demara said (public comment).