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Board debates Lifewise schedule after parents and members warn students may miss intervention time
Summary
Board members questioned whether the Lifewise program pulls students from intervention/tutoring time rather than specials or lunch. School staff said they created alternate intervention slots and will review academic and behavioral data before expanding the program.
The Bradford Exempted Village School Board spent a substantial portion of its meeting debating how the Lifewise program is scheduled and whether participating students lose intervention (tutoring) time.
Chair said the board first learned the program’s schedule had changed when a board member asked for clarification. “I thought when we agreed to this... it was going to be out of specials, lunch, and recess,” the Chair said, adding that she was surprised to learn some grades pull students during intervention time. Several board members urged caution before expanding the program if it reduces time for students who need extra instruction.
The Principal, who oversees implementation, said the district has adjusted scheduling to maintain intervention time while offering Lifewise. “It's right around, 40%,” she said when asked about enrollment for grades participating in Lifewise. She described creating a new intervention slot so students would not lose all tutoring: “So they're still getting intervention that day. They're just not getting that second intervention.” The Principal said the district will monitor academic outcomes and behavior—tracking whether missing recess or other time affects performance—before expanding the program further.
A board member pressed for clarity about which parts of the school day would be affected. The Principal said for third grade the program occurs during lunch, while other grades use a carved-out time that drew from small portions of specials and library to avoid removing core instruction.
The board’s exchange emphasized parental choice: one member noted that parents opt into Lifewise and thereby accept some trade-offs in scheduling. “This is a parent choice,” one member said. The Principal acknowledged that some families prefer their children attend and that program logistics have evolved since its initial rollout.
The district said it will collect and review data on behavior and achievement, and the Principal asked the board to allow time to evaluate those results before making a decision about wider expansion. The discussion ended without any formal motion to change the program schedule.
The board moved on to other agenda items after the review; no vote to alter Lifewise scheduling was taken.
