SALEM A town hall meeting is scheduled for Friday to discuss concerns about a program that would allow Salem City Schools students to attend Bible lessons off campus during school hours. The event, set for 5 p.m. at the Salem Historical Society, aims to inform the community about the program and its potential impact on public education.

LifeWise Academy is a "religious release-time" initiative that permits students to leave school grounds during instructional hours for Bible-based lessons.

Organizers for the town hall include Heather Smith, a Youngstown City Schools teacher and candidate for the Salem City School Board; Rachel Snell, a former LifeWise volunteer; and Shane Russo, lead organizer for ACTION of Mahoning Valley.

In a news release, Snell stated that the organizers, despite

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