Religious teachings at St. James school to be allowed next year following vote by board of trustees

Some students at an elementary school in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division will be receiving 30 minutes of religious teaching next year after the board of trustees passed a bylaw Tuesday evening.

Some students at an elementary school in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division (SJASD) will be receiving 30 minutes of religious teaching next year after the board of trustees passed a bylaw Tuesday evening.

The board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to bylaw 326-23, which will see some students at Strathmillan School receive religious teachings over the lunch hour.

The program would be run by the Child Evangelism Fellowship, which is a faith-based group based out of Warrenton, Missouri.

The topic was discussed after a petition was brought to the board by area residents to allow the program. More than 25 signatures were gathered from parents of children at the school.

The SJASD previously told CTV News Winnipeg that as part of the Public Schools Act in the province, the board of trustees is required to pass the bylaw if the number of signatures is met.

The division added only children of the parents who signed the petition will take the program.

During the board meeting Tuesday, it was clarified that this program will only be in place for the 2023-24 school year and a new petition must be submitted again for the next school year if the program is to continue.