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Parents urge district to limit release-time religious instruction after Lifewise concerns raised
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Summary
Two public commenters urged Peninsula School District to restrict release-time religious instruction (RTRI) and questioned materials used by Lifewise, saying some answers stigmatize LGBTQ students; the board took no immediate policy vote but noted concerns will be considered.
Two members of the public used the board’s public-comment period on April 21 to press the Peninsula School District to act on release-time religious instruction (RTRI) and materials from Lifewise.
Stephanie Keane told the board she views Lifewise as "a religious organization parading as a character education" program and raised objections to specific sample answers in the group's materials. Keane said certain responses on topics such as honoring parents, unmarried couples and gender expression were harmful to children and stigmatized queer youth. "The answers to the questions on gender expression and queer identity provide even more fear and stigma," she said, adding that the material can "teach my children to fear my existence as anger and God." (Stephanie Keane, public commenter.)
Community volunteer Jackie Pinkerton followed, praising district CTE efforts and then urging the board to adopt demonstrable policies to limit RTRI organizations’ access to students. Pinkerton said RTRI programs remove students from regular class or lunchtime and that expansion of Lifewise into additional schools (Artondale and Swiftwater were named in the public comments) has raised community concerns. "I'm here to ask that this district take demonstrable action and specific steps to limit RTRI organizations' access to our students," she said. (Jackie Pinkerton, public commenter.)
Board response and context: The board did not take immediate policy action during the meeting. Several board members acknowledged hearing parent concerns elsewhere and noted the district’s duty to balance family requests and state guidance; the superintendent’s report later in the meeting focused on district recognition of military families and strategic planning rather than immediate RTRI policy changes. The speakers asked for concrete steps; the board indicated these topics would be part of ongoing conversation and directed policy follow-up to future agendas where applicable.
Community activities noted in the meeting: earlier in the meeting the board recognized military-connected students and approved a resolution recognizing April as Month of the Military Child; students from Pioneer and other schools described food-drive partnerships benefiting the JBLM mobile food bank. The public-comment speakers tied their policy concerns to the district’s stated mission of fostering belonging.
What to watch for next: The district may place RTRI access and any proposed policy language on a future agenda for Board consideration; members of the public were advised they can submit written comments to become part of the public record.
