Mount Vernon City
Step 10 of 10
Open for Enrollment (Step Descriptions)
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.

Location
Map
Mount Vernon, OH 43050 Knox County
Signatures 249
Lifewise Website Lifewise Website
District Poverty Rate 15.9% (data source)
Non-White Students 10.1% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated October 16, 2025
Enrollment Stats
School Enrollment
190 students

All students in grades open to enroll in Lifewise

Lifewise Enrollment
Not known
School/district enrollment numbers from https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/
Lifewise enrollment numbers come from social media, newsletters, press, and public record requests. Contact RPS with enrollment numbers.
School Buildings and Grades
School Grades Period
Columbia Elementary School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Dan Emmett Elementary School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
East Elementary School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Lunch/Recess w/school option
Pleasant Street Elementary School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Twin Oak Elementary School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Wiggin Street Elementary School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Lunch/Recess w/school option
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.
Lifewise Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active
Director Shelly Miller shellymiller@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher Dolly Funsten Yes
Teacher Gail Funsten gailfunsten@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher John Dutton johndutton@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher Mindy Schemrich mindyschemrich@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher Stephen Funsten Yes
Teacher Troy Vosler troyvosler@lifewise.org Yes

LifeWise Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
249
January 4, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
248
September 5, 2023
 
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