Ohio

FFRF successfully convinced the Hilliard City Schools in Columbus, Ohio, not to allow LifeWise to hold meetings with staff regarding a bible school program for students.

A parent in the Hilliard City Schools reported that, in September 2023, staff were required to attend a training session conducted by LifeWise Academy representatives in which the representatives promoted LifeWise’s released-time bible study program. LifeWise is a program seeking to provide “bible-based character education to public school students” during regular school hours. Curriculum lasts five years, taking students through the entire bible.

“In order to respect the First Amendment rights of all its employees, HCS must ensure that all employee meetings are completely secular going forward,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.

After a year without response, FFRF reached out to the district again, to which Superintendent David Stewart addressed the concern.

“The local LifeWise director asked the principal if she could speak to the staff as part of their back-to-school meetings to explain what LifeWise is and how the logistics of the program would work.  The principal, wanting to be helpful, agreed,” Stewart wrote. “We later learned about this and instructed both the principal and LifeWise that this should not have happened and, moving forward, they would not have access to staff or staff meetings during the school day.  We also informed principals of other schools where LifeWise is operating of the same to avoid this occurring in other buildings.”