LifeWise presenters ask North Knox board to allow release-time religious instruction program

Deanna Plummer, speaking for LifeWise Academy organizers, asked the North Knox School Corporation board to allow a release-time religious instruction (RTRI) program that would let voluntarily enrolled students leave campus for privately funded, off-campus religious instruction during a non-core time such as lunch or recess. “I’m very excited to present to you an opportunity for you to partner with LifeWise Academy,” Plummer said, outlining the program model and the organizers’ next steps.

Presenters cited the 1952 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Zorach v. Clauson as the principal legal precedent permitting voluntary, off-campus religious instruction without public funding; Plummer also said Indiana’s statutory framework treats the state as a “shall” state for accomodating release time, and asked board members to review that status before action. Morgan Shooter, LifeWise director at South Knox, described the program’s logistics and uptake in her district: “We opened enrollment today again for the next school year and we’re up to 157 kids for next school year,” she said, describing a soft launch that served K–6 at South Knox and plans to expand to junior and senior high credits in time.

Organizers described how the program would operate in North Knox: students would attend once a week during a non-core period (typically lunch/recess), travel to an off-campus site and return for remaining instruction; participation would be voluntary and require parental permission. Presenters said LifeWise would be privately funded, would conduct background checks for volunteers, provide first-aid and active-shooter training for staff, and assume liability for students while they are in LifeWise care. Presenters identified potential host sites (Word of Life church and a Camp Arthur dining hall) and said they were discussing security sweeps and the possible presence of a Knox County sheriff’s deputy during program time.

Organizers reported local outreach results, citing a community-interest list and saying they collected 53 signatures in less than two hours and that a steering committee has formed (members mentioned in the meeting included Jesse Scott and Randy Hunter). Presenters said they had a volunteer pipeline and that LifeWise requires additional vetting and approvals for those who would teach more advanced (high-school) content, including degree requirements for credit-bearing courses.

Board members asked procedural and logistical questions — including where the district’s RTRI policy appears in board materials and whether the June meeting would be too late for a fall soft launch. One board member indicated willingness to let organizers begin community outreach and enrollment ahead of the June meeting if the presenters and staff coordinate logistics: “I think it’s too late as long as you are okay with us reaching out in the community and possibly beginning enrollment before then,” the board member said. The board did not vote on the program; presenters were asked to follow up with the board about the district policy location and next steps.

Why it matters: an RTRI program raises constitutional and operational questions for school districts because it involves off-campus religious instruction tied to public school schedules and students; organizers emphasized voluntary participation, parental permission and private funding as compliance measures and offered safety and supervision plans. The next procedural step is for organizers to share the district policy location and for the board to decide whether to formally permit outreach/enrollment or defer final approval to a later meeting.