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<\/p>\nThe meeting sparked debate over optional LifeWise Bible classes allowed by Florida law.<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 A national nonprofit offering Bible classes to students sparked a heated debate at Tuesday night\u2019s Duval County School Board meeting.<\/p>\n
The superintendent and school board chair both confirmed during Tuesday night\u2019s meeting that the school district does not have any partnership with LifeWise, the national nonprofit that will be offering Bible classes to students.<\/p>\n
However, parents have the right to allow their children to take part in these off-campus classes because of a Florida law.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m asking you for public decorum, so we can continue to run this meeting, so there are no outbursts from our community members,\u201d said School Board Chair Charlotte Joyce.<\/p>\n
Joyce had to ask for order, as discussions got heated during the public comment portion of the meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cLifeWise classes teach morals, right and wrongs, according to God’s word,\u201d said one supporter of LifeWise.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrograms like LifeWise, no matter how well intentioned, blur the lines between church and state,\u201d said a DCPS parent who is against the program.<\/p>\n
A majority of speakers spoke either for or against LifeWise.<\/p>\n
According to LifeWise Program Director Rhianna Sanford, the classes will last around 45 minutes and take place once a week. Students would be transported by a bus provided by the organization to an off-site location.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to serve teachers and schools across the nation,\u201d said Sanford during the meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdopting LifeWise in Duval County would strengthen our students, improve school culture and reflect the values of our community,\u201d said another supporter of LifeWise.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy inviting this organization into our public schools, you\u2019re putting our kids’ safety at risk, disrupting classrooms and contributing to truancy,\u201d said Katie Hathaway with Public Schools Defenders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very concerned about LifeWise trying to work their way into our schools here in Duval,\u201d said another DCPS parent opposing the program.<\/p>\n
A Florida statute and ruling by the Supreme Court permits districts to allow these programs. School leaders made that clear during the meeting.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI do want to clarify that LifeWise is not a vendor,\u201d said Joyce. \u201cThey will not use public funds. This is a strict agreement between the parent and the LifeWise Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not a program that this board or this superintendent or members of my staff brought,\u201d said Superintendent Christopher Bernier. \u201cWe do have to do with the law and what the law saw, and we have to make sure we\u2019re compliant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the heated back and forth, Joyce said there will not be a vote from the board on this program. The board just wanted to provide clarification.<\/p>\n
According to LifeWise’s Duval County program director, the nonprofit hopes to open their first site in the county within the next two months.<\/p>\n