WESTERVILLE, Ohio-The Westerville City Schools Board of Education held a special meeting to decide on rescinding its policy allowing absences for religious instruction, specifically affecting the LifeWise Academy program. The meeting drew hundreds of attendees, with public comments lasting nearly two and a half hours. Ultimately, all but one board member voted to rescind the policy, effectively ending the optional Bible program. Board president Kristy Meyer clarified that the decision was not about any specific religion but rather the impact of the policy. The religious absence policy, in place since 2009, allowed students to leave school for religious instruction, with LifeWise Academy having served around 300 students in recent years. Supporters of LifeWise, many wearing red, argued that the program provided valuable education and complied with legal rulings. In contrast, opponents, many in black, expressed concerns that the policy caused disruptions, created divides among students, and fostered a culture of bullying.
