Board OKs release for religious instruction

CELINA - School board members on Monday approved developing a pilot program for a nondenominational religious instruction class for high school students.

More than 20 people attended Monday's school board meeting to support the program. Celina First Church of God Teaching Pastor Craig Flack said high school students would need parental approval to leave school to attend the offsite Bible education program during the school day.

The program will be called Bulldog Ethics and be under the umbrella of Kingdom Harvest Ministries, which helps communities start local programs, Flack noted.

Classes will be religious in nature and serve as "a place for students to come together and converse about what it means to stand up to peer pressure and how to choose love when everything in them doesn't want to," he said

No public funding can legally be used for the program, Flack added, saying private funds have been raised to cover all potential costs, including insurance and possibly transportation needs.

No school district personnel are permitted by law to teach in the program. Instead, Flack said classes will be taught by volunteers with similar teaching credentials so students can get school credit.

Students will attend classes at the former gymnastics center across Wayne Street from the high school.

Longtime Celina resident Chris Mohler said he had purchased the building in the spring for $100,000, hoping to turn it into a religious community center. He offered the use of the building rent free.

Mohler said he thinks the program would benefit students after learning what his three children and their friends went through in high school.

His daughter, a Celina High School graduate, Cameron Mohler agreed, saying in high school she had dreamed of such a program.

"From a student's perspective, it would be great for them to have a place to go talk about their faith and know they're loved," she said.

Celina attorney Travis Faber said Marion Local, Coldwater and St. Henry students attend similar programs, and they are very successful and have a big impact on students' lives.

Celina's New Life Christian Center Pastor Justin Monfort and Van Wert Elementary School teacher Tom Sanford first proposed the program to board members last summer.

Board members in reply had told them to pitch the idea to principals to see if any would be interested in the program. On Monday, Flack said only high school principal Phil Metz was open to the program.

Metz said his biggest concern is finding a time students could take the elective but said he is open to the program and will continue to iron out details with the organizers.

Board member Carl Huber said he thinks the program would great for students. He made a motion to develop the pilot program. Members unanimously approved it.

Board members also,

• met in executive session to discuss employment. Board president Matt Gilmore said no action was taken afterward.

• accepted a $1,338 donation from the Mercer County Civic Foundation for the Underground Railroad Museum trip and a $500 donation from Women of the Moose 388 to pay off student lunch debt and help students in need.

• accepted the donation of a 2008 Chevrolet Impala from Keith Faber for the Tri Star Career Compact automative class.

• accepted the resignations of Head Start bus aide Jeanette Tindall, effective Dec. 13, and elementary school cafeteria worker Sara Custer, effective Dec. 2.

• accepted the retirement of administrative maintenance supervisor Jerry Fleck, after 39 years of service, effective Dec. 31.

• hired Jeffrey Everman as administrative maintenance supervisor, effective Jan. 2, and Whitney Langston as Head Start Family Engagement Services manager, effective Jan. 2.