By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
The Caverna Independent Schools Board of Education heard several presentations during its hour-long Thursday meeting, with the most extensive discussion centering on the district’s potential partnership with the LifeWise Academy Program, which provides off-campus Christian instruction centered on the Bible.
“It gives the students the opportunity to leave campus and participate in character based education,” explained Superintendent Amanda Abell. “They will do it on Fridays only during their related arts time.”
Delivering the presentation was Micah Fields, a Caverna alum and the program director for Metcalfe County’s LifeWise chapter. Fields opened the presentation with three words describing the program: “legal, simple and practical.”
“Based on a Supreme Court ruling in 1952, released time religious instruction is legal so long as it is off school property, privately funded and parent permitted,” she said. “There are no tax dollars that go into this, it is entirely community funded.”
“We’re the safest people in the state,” she said. “We prioritize that and background screenings will be provided to you all.”
The ruling Fields referenced came from the Supreme Court case Zorach v. Clauson. Kentucky lawmakers later reinforced that framework through Senate Bill 19, passed during the 2025 General Assembly, which established procedures allowing local school boards to approve off-campus “moral instruction” programs, such as Bible-based release time programs like LifeWise Academy, so long as they are privately funded, voluntary and held off school property. The legislation also established background check requirements for instructors and transportation providers while allowing participating students to still count toward school attendance funding.
Fields said that once students are released to LifeWise, the program assumes responsibility for them until they are returned to school. The organization would also oversee transportation to and from an authorized instruction site, which in Caverna’s case would be Horse Cave Baptist Church. According to Fields, the curriculum is non-denominational.
The program is voluntary, meaning parents or guardians must approve participation before students can enroll. Abell and board members also reinforced that the instruction would not interfere with core academic subjects.
Currently, five Kentucky school districts have agreed to participate in the program, Fields said, sharing enrollment data from three of them.
“Marshall County was the first one and they have over 500 students and then Metcalfe County, we were the second ones…. We started with 45 students and we ended our classes on May 1 with 153,” she said. “Cumberland County also launched and they had such an overwhelming flow they outgrew their area, but they’ve got a new space so there’s no more waiting list to serve their kids.”
Fields also addressed security procedures, explaining that participating facilities remain locked for entry and exit during instruction hours. She added that should an emergency arise involving a student, LifeWise staff would transport the child back to school for pickup.
Should a parent or guardian wish to see a student at the instruction site, Fields said they would first need approval from the local LifeWise director.
“Even though it’s a church building they can’t come in or out on their own,” she said.
Fields also discussed the qualifications expected of instructors within the program.
“All of our teachers go through the background checks and have to have two years experience in some way of teaching,” she said. “Whether that be teaching Bible studies or a pastor of a church, Sunday schools or teaching experience.”
The board ultimately approved entering into a partnership with the program under the expressed understanding that any organization meeting the same criteria as LifeWise would receive the same approval process regardless of religious affiliation.
The program is expected to begin at the elementary level this fall.
Board members also approved the district’s tentative budget for the upcoming school year following last month’s decision to raise salaries by 2 percent. The final budget is expected to be revisited during June’s meeting.
Two items were tabled until next month, including salary schedules for certified and classified staff as well as approval of the district’s virtual learning plan. Board members determined additional discussion was needed before taking action on either item.
The board also approved its School Resource Officer contract, which now provides two officers split between the district’s schools. The officers are from the Cave City Police Department and come at a cost of $125,000, though grants totaling $20,000 per campus will offset part of the expense.
The next scheduled meeting of the Caverna board is set for June 11 at 5 p.m.
Key Facts
– Caverna Board of Education approves partnership with LifeWise Academy for off-campus Bible-based instruction
– Program will start at Caverna Elementary this fall and operate on Fridays during related arts time
– Instruction will be held at Horse Cave Baptist Church, privately funded and voluntary, with parent permission required
– The program is allowed under a 1952 U.S. Supreme Court ruling and Kentucky’s 2025 Senate Bill 19
– Board approves tentative budget reflecting a 2% salary increase for staff
– Salary schedules and the district’s virtual learning plan are tabled for further discussion
– School resource officer contract approved for two officers from Cave City Police Department at a cost of $125,000, partly offset by grants
– Next Caverna Board of Education meeting set for June 11 at 5 p.m.
