Residents urge Canfield board to limit release-time religious instruction, press for levy outreach

Residents used the public-comment period at the Canfield Local Board of Education meeting on May 13 to press the board to change how the district handles "release time for religious instruction," and to urge the community to prepare for future levy decisions.

"Despite its name, this has very little to do with religion," Rachel Muer said during public comment, summarizing her research and asking the board to adjust the district's RTRI policy to protect non-core instructional time such as art, music, physical education, STEM and library. Muer told board members she has asked administrators whether the district can change its policy and said the answer was that doing so is up to the board.

Muer cited examples from other Ohio districts and told the board she is worried that large participation rates in RTRI programs can leave remaining students without full classes. "What happens to the art class that has lost two-thirds of its students when budget cuts come?" she asked, adding that she's concerned about library and music programs at the elementary level.

Jason Henry invited board members and the public to a community forum scheduled for the next evening, May 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the village middle school front gymnasium, saying the organizers want a wide cross-section of residents to "speak, be heard" and provide guidance the community will support should the board move toward a levy.

Board members acknowledged the concerns. Mr. Demo said administrators and trustees "are going to schedule a policy committee meeting here to discuss" RTRI and that the committee will make a recommendation to the full board. Administration staff were noted as available to participate in that committee discussion.

The meeting record shows the board did not take an immediate policy vote; the next procedural step reported was scheduling a policy committee meeting to review RTRI and return recommendations to the full board.