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Parent asks Raleigh County Board to allow early release for private Bible class
Summary
At a board meeting, parent Jennifer Britt asked the Raleigh County Board of Education to grant a religious exemption so her daughter may leave school early to take a Bible course at Mount Hope Christian Academy, citing state code and district policy and saying the family will provide transportation and is not seeking credit.
Jennifer Britt told the Raleigh County Board of Education she is requesting a religious exemption to allow her daughter to leave Woodrow Wilson High School for the last period to attend a Bible 101 class at Mount Hope Christian Academy.
Britt addressed the board during public comment and said she would not seek credit or school transportation for the class. “My name is Jennifer Britt, and I’m here to discuss my daughter,” she said, reading an emailed request dated June 20. Britt said the family would provide transportation and that Pastor Quinn Runyon supplied a letter confirming enrollment.
Britt cited district and state authorities in support of the request, including Policy D.3.1, West Virginia Code §18-8-1, and Title 126 (legislative rule) and told the board she believes her daughter would still meet the district’s definition of a full day of attendance even if released early. She also referenced medical support from Dr. Susan Cavender, whom she said recommended the instruction for mental-health reasons, and described her daughter as an honors student with extracurricular commitments.
The board did not take immediate public action on the request during the meeting. The item came during the public-comment portion of the agenda; no board vote or formal directive to staff was recorded on the transcript concerning Britt’s petition.
Next steps: the board or administration may place the request on a future meeting agenda for formal consideration, or staff may follow up with Britt for additional documentation or to clarify next steps under district policy and state law.
