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Pastor asks board to approve LifeWise release-time program as state law evolves
Summary
A pastor asked the Waterloo Local Board to approve LifeWise Academy (a release-time religious instruction program) and said the district is at step six of a 10-step implementation; district staff said pending state legislation could make the program mandatory and they will prepare policy if needed.
Lee Hackner, who identified himself as pastor at Life Point Church, asked the board to consider implementing LifeWise Academy, a release-time religious instruction program that would transport participating students to off-campus instruction provided by local churches.
Hackner said the district was on step six of the program’s 10-step implementation process and that participating congregations were ready to provide personnel and financial support. He cited the Ohio Revised Code framework and said the program started in 2019 and has expanded in other districts.
“We're in the process … we're on actually step six right now which is the approval of the board and ... we've got more than enough signatures that we need,” Hackner said.
Board members and staff noted an outstanding legislative context: at the legislative update the superintendent and others reported that Ohio currently treats release time as optional but that pending legislation — including a change legislators were discussing — could require districts to adopt procedures or policy. The superintendent said the district would have policy to consider when the legislature and governor finalize language.
The board did not vote to adopt LifeWise Academy at this meeting; staff signaled they will continue to work with the pastor and watch state action before taking formal board action.
