Signatures
174
People who signed Lifewise's petition
State Law
Kentucky is a
"May" state
Active Schools
Lifewise Enrollment
| Location Map | Benton, KY 42025 Marshall County |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 15.3% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 7.4% (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.
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Schools in the District (13)
| School | Grades | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Benton Elementary School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th | |
| Calvert City Elementary School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th | |
| Central Elementary School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th | |
| Jonathan Elementary School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th | |
| North Marshall Middle School | 6th, 7th, 8th | |
| Sharpe Elementary School | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th | |
| Marshall County High School | ||
| Marshall County Technical Center | ||
| MC Academy | ||
| Purchase Youth Village | ||
| South Marshall Elementary School | ||
| South Marshall Middle | ||
| Star Academy High School | ||
State Law and School Board Policy
| School District Policy | |
| Policy Notes | |
| Kentucky State Law | School districts may allow students to be released for religious study, but they may also not allow it. |
| Law Notes |
Local Personel
Download All Lifewise Personel List
| Title | Name | Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Chelsie Simmons | chelsiesimmons@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Director | Julie Dotson | juliedotson@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Director | Julie Dotson Dotson | juliedotson@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Debra Moore | debramoore@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Denise Collins | Yes | |
| Teacher | Janet Ward | janetward@lifewise.org | Yes |
| Teacher | Michele Murphy | Yes | |
| Teacher | Olivia Hawthorne | Yes | |
| Teacher | Patty Holleran | Yes | |
| Teacher | Sheryl Potter | sherylpotter@lifewise.org | Yes |
Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
174
January 4, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
166
February 5, 2024
Enrollment Data
| School Enrollment | Lifewise Enrollment | % | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No enrollment information | |||
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 | Benton First Baptist Church | 910 Main St Benton, KY 42025 | https://bentonfbc.org/ |
| Church | First Missionary Baptist Church | 1280 Riley Rd Benton, KY 42025 | https://www.firstmissionary.net/ |
