Signatures
202
People who signed Lifewise's petition
State Law
Ohio is a
"Shall" state
Active Schools
Lifewise Enrollment
| Location Map | Kansas, OH 44841 Sandusky County |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 9.6% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 13.6% (data source) |
| NCES Link | NCES District Info |
| Last Updated | December 3, 2025 |
What Can My School District Do?
All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.
Share With Others Click to share
Schools in the District (3)
| School | Grades | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Lakota Elementary School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th | Lunch/Recess |
| Lakota Middle School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th | Lunch/Recess |
| Lakota High School | ||
State Law and School Board Policy
| School District Policy | |
| Policy Notes | |
| Ohio State Law | Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time. |
| State Law Link | https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3313.6022 |
| Law Notes | Ohio's legislature recently passed legislation to allow school districts to pass polices and have no limits on the number of hours students can miss for released time. Waiting on the governor's signature. |
Local Personel
Download All Lifewise Personel List
| Title | Name | Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | James Dieter | jamesdieter@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Alana Mellott | Yes | |
| Teacher | Jeff Adams | Yes | |
| Teacher | Michele Stevenson | Yes | |
| Teacher | Roberta Edinger | Yes | |
| Teacher | Jeffrey Adams | No |
Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
202
January 18, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
197
October 17, 2024
Step 8
Train Your Team
189
July 31, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
0
June 30, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
133
June 20, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
99
June 11, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
51
June 6, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
51
May 17, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
50
May 5, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
50
May 1, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
50
April 26, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
12
March 25, 2024
Enrollment Data
| School Enrollment | Lifewise Enrollment | % | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 408 | 41 | 10% | November 2025 |
Lifewise enrollment numbers come from social media, newsletters, press, and public record requests. Contact RPS with enrollment numbers.
Associated Organizations
| Org Type | Org Name | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church | First Church of God | 7968 US-23 Risingsun, OH 43457 | http://www.risingsunfcog.org/ |
