By JONATHAN SNYDER
Since Spring 2023, Lifewise Academy has seen major growth in student numbers.
The spring semester of 2023 saw 43 students join the Lifewise program, which was only available for Ossian and Lancaster Elementary schools, ending with 81 students involved. Now, the academy has 894 students as part of the program, with classes available for Southern Wells, Bluffton and Norwell schools.
Lifewise has hired two new teachers for its programs, along with acquiring two handicap accessible buses for the program. Both buses came from the Wells County Council on Aging, with one bus being purchased and one being donated. Lifewise is still searching for another bus driver to help shuttle kids to and from the Lancaster program, as that school has multiple locations.
“We used to do one bus at Lancaster last year … we are doing two this year just because of the time factor and how many kids there are,” Norwell District Program Director Rhonda Maller said. “We have two different locations for classrooms for Lancaster … and doing that means we need to add another bus driver, and we are still searching.”
Using Lifewise prepared procedures and advice, the academy has expanded its grade levels throughout the three school districts. Both Norwell schools have classes available for Kindergarten through fifth grade students. Bluffton students in grades first through fourth are eligible for Lifewise courses, while Southern Wells has courses available for first through fifth grade students.
Thanks to advice taken from other Lifewise academies around the country, the local chapters have prepared for the influx of students. Typically, a new student will cost about $30 a month to put them into the program, according to Maller, but private donations have helped keep the academy going. Southern Wells Program Director Tara Frauhiger stated that Lifewise has given them roadmaps to handle different pressures and growing pains for the academy.
“Lifewise is really good at planning ahead for us … so they don’t leave us in a bind,” Frauhiger said. “They have us prep ahead of time, so we haven’t had any significant problems with more students coming.”
“It’s more like just making little tweaks in your system,” Maller said. “It doesn’t create big problems, because Lifewise is really good at saying, ‘OK, this is a potential (issue). This is how you handle it.’”
The growth has also seen the need for new avenues and locations. Bluffton’s campus, at the Foundations of Truth building, is starting to reach maximum classroom capacity. Bluffton Program Director Sarah Corkwell stated that they are in the process of identifying a suitable location, but no official offer has been made.
Additionally, Lifewise has a middle school curriculum available for the three districts to use. While there has been interest in expanding to middle schools, no discussions have been held with school boards. Maller said the goal for middle school expansion is in the Fall of 2026.
“These kids are starting to get the idea of coming out of themselves and thinking about others,” Maller said. “There’s no words for it. We know of families that have started going to church now that weren’t before, because of Lifewise, and that’s going to help grow our community.”
jonathan@news-banner.com
