Zane Trace Local
Step 10 - Open for Enrollment (Step Descriptions)
Map
Location Chillicothe, OH 45601 Ross County
Signatures 231
LifeWise URL LifeWise Academy Page
District Poverty Rate 12.2% (data source)
Non-White Students 6.2% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated September 14, 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.

  School Buildings and Grades
103197
103199
School Grades Period School Enrollment
Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center 11th, 12th 331
Zane Trace Elementary School 4th 89
Zane Trace Middle School 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th 79
RTRI State Law and School Board Policy Info
School District Policy The policy has extra requirements that go beyond the state/federal requirements.
Policy Link https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/ztloh/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DABQM367DA09
Policy Notes The policy states, "The Board of Education may permit students participating in religious instruction access to an early or late bus route." This is a before and after-school Lifewise program. Lifewise claims not to allow before or after-school programs.
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
  Lifewise Staff/Volunteers Download Lifewise Staff/Volunteer List (CSV)
Title Name Email Active
Director Debra Geno debrageno@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher John Hutton Yes
Teacher Melissa Hutton Yes
Teacher Stephanie Clemmons Yes

  LifeWise Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
231
February 2, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
217
July 17, 2024
Step 8
Train Your Team
0
June 19, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
0
May 4, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
137
May 2, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
136
April 25, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
101
April 4, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
100
March 29, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
99
March 25, 2024
 
  LifeWise Enrollment
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  Knowledge Base