Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ohio sponsors describe bill to let districts use volunteer chaplains with parental consent
Summary
Representatives Jonathan Newman and Kevin Ritter said a school chaplaincy bill being heard in the education committee would allow (but not require) districts to use volunteer chaplains; parental consent would be required for students to meet with a chaplain, sponsors said.
Representatives Jonathan Newman and Kevin Ritter described a school chaplaincy bill on the program as an optional tool for districts to provide additional emotional and spiritual support to students.
"It gives another resource for schools, students and faculty to help support students," Newman said, describing the measure as permissive rather than mandatory. He emphasized parental consent would be required for a student to see a volunteer chaplain, and that districts would not be required to appoint chaplains.
Sponsors said the measure was intended to add a community-based resource where districts struggle to hire enough counselors, and they cited interest from rural districts and faith communities that already have local clergy known to students and families.
The discussion in the segment was limited to sponsor proponent testimony; the transcript does not include counterarguments, analysis of policy safeguards (such as referral protocols or training requirements), or testimony from school administrators, teachers' unions, or child‑welfare experts.
