BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — A Bible education program wants to offer nondenominational Bible-based education to Bowling Green City Schools students. LifeWise Academy representatives spoke to the BGCS Board of Education Monday night about the proposal, which would be during regular school hours, they said.
Board President Ryan Meyers said Monday night was the first time the board members heard the proposal. "The board is yet to have any conversation or any dialogue about that" and needs to do so, he said.
LifeWise Academy, based in Hilliard, Ohio, is a "Released Time Religious Instruction" program founded in 2018 that allows students to leave school during the day for Bible-based education.
"Under RTRI laws, students can be released from public school during the school day to attend religious classes, provided the program is off school property, privately funded and parent-permitted," according to LifeWise's website.
The program wouldn't be a mandatory course. The classes would take place off school grounds, be privately funded and have parental consent. LifeWise Director of Advancement Derek Stemen cited a 1952 Supreme Court Ruling that allows for such programs.
"There's no cost to taxpayers for this. In fact, part of that Supreme Court ruling is that it has to be privately funded," Stemen said. "Parents have this opportunity to choose religious education as part of their overall education."
Other school districts in the area have policies allowing for religious instruction. Eastwood and Elmwood also offer "release-time" policies.
LifeWise Academy "created a replicable, scalable model to help communities start a 'release time' program," Stemen said.
Myers said more conversation with board members and the public is necessary before taking any steps forward.
Neither party has given a timeline for any next steps.