Everett schools settle LifeWise Bible study suit: $275,000, apology, policy changes
Everett Public Schools in Washington state agreed to pay $275,000 in attorney's fees, post a public apology and change policies to settle a suit by LifeWise, an off-campus Bible study program. The district says it did not lose the case.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Everett Public Schools in Washington state agreed to pay $275,000 to cover legal fees, post a public apology for six months and change several policies to settle a lawsuit brought by LifeWise, a ministry that runs off-site Bible study for students, according to the ministry's lawyers. Just the NewsRC “agreed to change several policies, post a public apology for six months and pay $275,000 to cover a student ministry's legal fees” Read at Just the News ↗ JNSR “agreed to pay $275,000 in attorney’s fees and to apologize to families” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1The Everett Herald confirmed the board approved the settlement on Tuesday, which preempts a trial scheduled for next year. Just the NewsRC “The Everett Herald confirmed the board approved the settlement Tuesday, which preempts a trial scheduled for next year.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1The settlement follows a preliminary injunction this spring, in which a federal court found the district committed "viewpoint discrimination" against LifeWise and required it to treat the ministry like secular groups in advertising its program and to stop raising roadblocks to student participation in release time. Just the NewsRC “The settlement follows a preliminary injunction against Everett Public Schools this spring for committing "viewpoint discrimination" against LifeWise.” Read at Just the News ↗
Right · 1LifeWise's attorneys accused the district of imposing restrictions other programs did not face, including weekly parental permission and a rule that students keep LifeWise materials in sealed envelopes in their backpacks. JNSR “requiring weekly parental permission and rules requiring students to keep LifeWise materials in sealed envelopes in their backpacks” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 2First Liberty Institute, which represents LifeWise with co-counsel Bryan Cave, said the settlement also requires the board to undergo "religious liberty training" and revise district policies on religious activities. Just the NewsRC “First Liberty Institute, representing LifeWise with co-counsel Bryan Cave, said the district board approved the settlement.” Read at Just the News ↗ JNSR “requires the district school board to undergo religious liberty training and includes revisions to district policies on religious activities” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 2The apology refers to hostile comments by board members, including one who said "I do in fact hold animus" toward LifeWise; JNS names that member as Charles Adkins, citing the attorneys' account. Just the NewsRC “"I do in fact hold animus" against the group” Read at Just the News ↗ JNSR “Attorneys cited school board member Charles Adkins” Read at JNS ↗
Right · 2The district's statement, signed by Superintendent Ian Saltzman and board members, says the comments were "offensive and hurtful" to participating families and apologizes to anyone made to feel their beliefs were "unworthy of respect." Just the NewsRC “were offensive and hurtful to the families participating in LifeWise programming” Read at Just the News ↗ JNSR “your religious beliefs are unworthy of respect” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1The district emphasized that it did not lose the case but "respects" the injunction, and it acknowledged its policy implementation "created difficulties for LifeWise students and their families." Just the NewsRC “The district emphasized it didn't lose the case but it "respects" the preliminary injunction” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2LifeWise CEO Joel Penton called the settlement "a welcome victory," and First Liberty senior counsel Stephanie Taub called it "a tremendous victory not only for our clients but for all religious release time programs." Just the NewsRC “a welcome victory for Everett families who simply want the freedom to choose Bible education” Read at Just the News ↗ JNSR “This is a tremendous victory not only for our clients but for all religious release time programs.” Read at JNS ↗
Right · 1The district, which has about 20,700 students in 27 schools, says on its website that it neither endorses nor opposes religious programs; its guidelines limit release for religious instruction to lunch or recess and require parental authorization. JNSR “about 20,700 students in 27 schools”“limit release for religious instruction to lunch or recess, require parental authorization” Read at JNS ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the settlement as a win for religious-liberty plaintiffs, relying mainly on First Liberty Institute and LifeWise statements and the district's apology.
- Emphasis
- Board members' hostile remarks, the apology and the fee payment, and plaintiffs' quotes calling it a victory.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No comment from the district's critics or the board member quoted; the settlement text was not provided, so terms rest on the plaintiffs' lawyers. JNS omits the district's statement that it did not lose the case.
- Charged language
- “viewpoint discrimination”“Religious discrimination has no place in public schools”“tremendous victory”
- For example
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“The district emphasized it didn't lose the case but it "respects" the preliminary injunction” — Just the News
““Religious discrimination has no place in public schools,” stated Stephanie Taub” — JNS
What every side reports
- Everett Public Schools agreed to pay $275,000 in attorney's fees to settle LifeWise's lawsuit.
- The district will post an apology for six months.
- The board must undergo religious liberty training and revise policies on religious activities, per First Liberty.
- A board member's statement of animus toward LifeWise is cited.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the district lost the case
- Left
- The district emphasized it didn't lose the case, per Just the News.
- Right
- Plaintiffs' lawyers call the settlement a tremendous victory; Just the News notes a preliminary injunction found viewpoint discrimination.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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School district pays $275,000, changes policies to settle Bible study discrimination lawsuit
Mixed Detailed report leading with payment and policy changes, quoting the apology and plaintiffs' lawyers while also including the district's position that it did not lose.
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JNSR ·
Washington state school district agrees to apologize, pay $275,000 to Bible ed group
Sympathetic Short report relaying First Liberty's account and quotes, framing the outcome as a victory for religious release-time programs.
- 15 Oct 16:18 First Just the NewsRC School district pays $275,000, changes policies to settle Bible study discrimination lawsuit
- 15 Oct 19:28 +3h 10m JNSR Washington state school district agrees to apologize, pay $275,000 to Bible ed group
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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