BBH updates religious training policy to meet new state law
by Melissa Martin
Feb. 18 school board meeting
To meet a new state mandate, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Board of Education announced plans to pass legislation in March permitting students to take off-campus religious education during the school day.
On Jan. 8, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed H.B. 8, making it mandatory that all school districts excuse students from classes during a set time frame to pursue religious studies. The bill will take effect on April 9.
Before the bill’s passage, Superintendent Jeffrey Harrison said school districts had a choice whether to offer the option. BBH schools had given students with parental consent the opportunity to receive religious instruction, but Harrison said the policy will be modified slightly to comply with the new state law.
“Essentially [the wording] just had to change from ‘may’ to ‘shall,’ saying the district had to [make the time available to students] since it is now required by the state,” Harrison explained.
Other nearby districts, including Revere, have been contacted by religious organizations (especially LifeWise Academy) looking to provide curriculum to schools, but Harrison said the BBH schools have yet to be approached.
“Currently we have not been approached by any organizations wanting to do this,” Harrison told the board. “I’m not saying that we won’t be, but at the same time that goes a long way to say what kind of a relationship our school district has with our faith community. … They know all the mandates that are put upon us and how much material and curriculum we have to cover in a given day.”
In accordance with the new policy, Harrison said there is a 50-minute maximum students can be excused from school for religious education per day.
“Why 50 minutes?” Harrison asked. “That’s the [time] limit for lunch and recess time at the elementary school. Because, ideally, that is the time that type of activity will take place.”
Harrison said the district distributes a notice to parents and guardians at the beginning of every school year explaining that sacrificing instruction time for religious education during the school day is “very difficult.”
“But we do have the availability to do it if we so choose to partner with an organization that wants to [offer] this in our district,” he said.
The policy, which was given a first reading, has been reviewed by the district’s executive team, which has fielded questions from board members and adjusted the policy accordingly.“ This will officially be approved on second reading at the March board meeting, but between board meetings, we can make additional adjustments if needed,” Harrison said.