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Worthington policy committee will ask for religious release program curriculum before bringing changes to full board
Summary
Policy committee members in Worthington agreed to request the curriculum for the district's religious "release time" program after public comments raised concerns about content and timing; the committee will present counsel guidance and options to the full board for a later vote.
Members of the Worthington City board's policy committee agreed at a meeting to request the curriculum used in the district's religious "release time" program so the full board can review materials before considering any changes to Policy 5223.
The committee said public comments suggested the program may include material described by speakers as "anti-LGBTQ" or critical of children of divorced parents and noted concerns about pulling students from instruction during the school day. A committee member summarized the action plan: request the curriculum, share counsel guidance and recently enacted waivers of liability, and present a set of options to the full board for a substantive discussion at a future meeting.
"I would make a recommendation that we should ask for it," said an unnamed policy committee member, arguing the board should not make decisions based on hearsay. Another participant noted the district or committee had not previously requested the curriculum, which is why the committee lacks direct evidence about program content.
Committee members outlined possible paths: revoke Policy 5223; keep it as written; or wait to see what the state legislature does this fall before adopting local changes. The group also discussed narrower fixes, such as adding boundaries or administrative guidelines to protect student safety and to ensure school staff and resources are not used by outside organizations.
The committee flagged an apparent inconsistency between the policy text and guidance from legal counsel: the policy states that "no solicitation for attendance at religious instruction shall be permitted on district premises," yet counsel's guidance to the committee suggested that practice has been treated differently. The committee agreed it needs to reconcile written policy, counsel guidance, and actual practice before proposing any formal change.
Members agreed to inform the full board that the policy committee will request the curriculum and other materials and will bring options and supporting documentation to a future meeting for discussion. No change to Policy 5223 was adopted at the committee meeting.
Procedural actions taken: the committee voted to approve the minutes and then voted to adjourn; Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Davis were recorded as voting "Yes" on both procedural motions.
The committee identified a possible timeline for formal policy changes: if a revision is proposed, it would follow the board's standard sequence of a first reading and then a second reading at subsequent meetings before any change is adopted.
