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In This Issue
Hello, Fellow Freethinkers.
Our week started out with the Ides of March.
Ah, yes, the Ides - feared especially by salads of the Caesar variety each year. Et tu, croute? Is this really how the Romaine empire fell? No matter. Lettuce get on with the newsletter. Or at least take a stab at it. 🔪🥗
A lot has been happening in Ohio lately. This newsletter will be a roundup of things that have shown up on our radar, including a slew of FFRF successes right here in our own back yard.
As always, please forward this newsletter to the people who need to read it.
Thanks for reading,
Your COFFRF Planning Committee
Matthew Dyer, Chair
David Jon Krohn, treasurer
Bill Fullarton
Glenn Waring
Anita Bucknam
Les Kleen
Jason Parker, webmaster
P.S. Would you like to contribute an article or thought piece to our monthly newsletter? Do you have an idea about something you’d like to see COFFRF do this year? Drop me a line: matthew@coffrf.org.
As Ohio Goes...
As Ohio Goes...
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave his final State of the State Address on last week. Right after gaveling open the session, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley told everyone at this state sponsored event to “please rise as we open with prayer.”
Roy Hall, Jr., a former NFL and OSU football player and Executive Director of the Driven Foundation, spoke the Christian prayer. He started by telling everyone in the room to bow their heads. He said "please" so it almost felt like an invitation, but he was telling, not asking.
“Heavenly Father," he said as an offical speaker at an official state sponsored event. "In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus, we come before you with humility, gratitude, and reverence.” He went on, and on some more, quoting scripture from the Bible and calling for “this not to be a day of performance, but a day of purpose.” His closing “amen” garnered performative applause.
You can watch the whole recording on The Ohio Channel’s website, or read Governor Mike DeWine's State of the State speech as prepared. Here are a few additional links describing the event:
Gov. DeWine delivers 2026 State of the State address (10tv.com)
DeWine Gives His Final State of the State Address (columbusunderground.com)
Dems say real State of the State shows too many Ohioans still stuck (ohiohouse.gov)
HCR Mentions Ohio, Ohioans Sigh with Exhaustion
HCR Mentions Ohio, Ohioans Sigh with Exhaustion
In case you missed it, Ohio made it into Heather Cox-Richardson’s newsletter last week.
“In Ohio today,” she wrote in her March 12 newsletter, “Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy launched a $10 million TV and digital ad campaign to run until Election Day.”
She put that amount into perspective by sharing, “Jeremy Pelzer of Cleveland DOT com explained that this ad buy alone is more than twice as much as the $4.4 million Democratic candidate Amy Acton, the former state health director, has raised, and it is only about half of the $19.5 million Ramaswamy’s campaign has raised.”
The rest of the piece, which you can read on Substack, explores how billionaires like Stephen Schwarzman and Elon Musk have significantly impacted elections, favoring Republican candidates and policies that benefit the wealthy. 💰
House Bill 531: It's Chaplain vs. Chaplain, and the Chaplain Is Winning.
House Bill 531: It's Chaplain vs. Chaplain, and the Chaplain Is Winning.
Ohio House Bill 531, a bill which would make it easier for untrained and uncertified chaplains to set up shop in public schools is facing opposition from, believe it or not, chaplains. Here's a brief summary of what’s happening with a link back to the fuller story as it first appeared on The Buckeye Flame as written by H.L. Comeriato.
Ohio House Bill 531 would allow untrained and uncertified chaplains to volunteer in public schools, and the opposition it faces comes from social workers, counselors, and even chaplains themselves.
The bill, proposed by Rep. Jonathan Newman (R-Troy), would allow chaplains to serve with endorsements from their denominations, bypassing standardized training and certification requirements.
Critics argue this lack of oversight could jeopardize student safety, particularly for LGBTQ+ and non-Christian students, and call for increased funding for licensed mental health professionals instead.
One such critic, Benjamin Iten, a humanist chaplain with more than a decade of certified experience put it plainly: “Really, if we’re serious about the mental health of our students, we should provide robust funding for mental health professionals, not chaplains.”
Read the full story:
Bill that allows untrained chaplains in Ohio schools opposed by chaplains themselves during third hearing. Chaplains, social workers and counselors say untrained chaplains place LGBTQ+ and non-Christian students at risk. (thebuckeyeflame.com)
"Really, if we’re serious about the mental health of our students, we should provide robust funding for mental health professionals, not chaplains.”
-Benjamin Iten, Humanist Chaplain
"Yup. What he said."
-Matthew Dyer, COFFRF Planning Committee Chair
FFRF Victories in Ohio
FFRF Victories in Ohio
Between the January-February 2026 issue of FFRF’s Freethought Today and the March 2026 issue, Ohio is mentioned no less than five times.
We're sharing these successes so you can see the impact FFRF has in states and communities like ours.
Freethought Today is the FFRF member newsletter covering FFRF actions and news.
Join FFRF to receive your copy of Freethought Today and other benefits.
Your membership helps FFRF intervene in Ohio and other places where the wall between church and state is being chipped away at.
Photo by Klim Musalimov on Unsplash
Pickerington Local School District
Pickerington Local School District
FFRF made sure that a religious illusionist wouldn’t pull another trick on the Pickering Schools System in Pickerington, Ohio, after the evangelist used a school assembly to invite students to his church.
Several concerned parents reported that on Sept. 29, 2025, Harmon Middle School permitted an adult magician and evangelist, David Corn, to perform for students during a school assembly.
The assembly took place on school property during the school day, and after the performance, Corn allegedly gave students free tickets to a religious event billed as a “magic show” later that week at a local church. Corn’s website describes his scheme:
“Primarily, we enter public schools, hold morality talks, and invite young people to church for a bigger illusion show where I preach the gospel. Hundreds of first-time visitors have come to church, heard the gospel and trusted Christ!”
The parent informed FFRF that their children were excited about going to the “magic show” event and that they had to disappoint their children and try to explain why the show did not align with their families’ views.
“The school’s actions also needlessly marginalized district students, including our complainants’ children, and staff who are nonreligious, as well as those who believe in minority faiths,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote to the district.
FFRF’s work paid off as district Superintendent Charles Smialek confirmed in an email apologizing for the event. “We acknowledge that we violated our own policy by allowing this gentleman to distribute tickets to his religious event at his church,” Smialek wrote. “This was unexpected and should not have occurred. We have reminded our principals in our monthly meeting format to not allow for repeat lapses.”
Source: https://www.freethoughttoday.com/free/ffrf-victories-jan-feb-2026/
Photo by Cody Otto on Unsplash
Coshocton City Schools
Coshocton City Schools
FFRF worked with the Coshocton City Schools in Ohio to see to it that future assemblies would not incorporate prayer or religious music in order to create a more welcoming environment for students.
A parent reported that on Nov. 11, 2025, Coshocton High School held a mandatory Veterans Day assembly. During the assembly, a teacher at the high school led all students in a Christian prayer followed by a request that the students stand and sing “God Bless the USA.” The parent stated that their child felt very uncomfortable and pressured to participate. Their child also reported that they felt like if they did not comply, they might be bullied, ostracized or possibly punished.
“Coshocton City Schools has an obligation under the law to make certain that its teachers are not violating students’ rights by proselytizing or leading children in prayer,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote.
FFRF’s message was received and Superintendent Mark Kowalski informed FFRF that no assemblies at the district are mandatory, but the parent’s concern was addressed regardless. “I can assure you that in the future that none of our assemblies will include any type of prayer or any music that could be mistaken for ‘religious’ in nature,” he wrote. “All of our assemblies will continue to remain voluntary in nature, as well.”
Source: https://www.freethoughttoday.com/free/ffrf-victories-march-2026/
Photo by Cody Otto on Unsplash
Photo by Steve Lieman on Unsplash
Portsmouth West Elementary School
Portsmouth West Elementary School
The Washington Nile Local School District in West Portsmouth, Ohio, learned not to promote religious organizations at district events and on official district social media pages after receiving a letter from FFRF.
A parent reported that on Oct. 29, 2025, Portsmouth West Elementary School (PWES) hosted a Trunk or Treat/Math and Literacy Night event where there were tables promoting various local churches. The parent reported that these churches were invited to set up booths inside the school. PWES’s official Facebook page also promoted the event as presented by PWES.
Additionally, the PWES official Facebook page was reposting Compass School Ministries’ Facebook post about religious teachings during release time onto the official school’s Facebook page.
“The district cannot allow its schools to be used as recruiting grounds for churches at school events,” Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote. “As the district is aware, public schools may not show favoritism towards nor coerce belief in religion.”
In response, Superintendent Chris Rapp reported the corrective actions taken. “In response to your letter, Washington-Nile Local Schools will ensure that PWES refrains from promoting religious organizations at school-sponsored events going forward,” Rapp wrote. “We have deleted the aforementioned post and have counseled our staff to refrain from promoting religious teachings using official district channels, including social media.”
Source: https://www.freethoughttoday.com/free/ffrf-victories-march-2026/
Photo by Ethan Alvarez on Unsplash
Maysville Local Schools
Maysville Local Schools
FFRF is pleased to see the Maysville Local Schools system in Ohio realign with the Constitution by agreeing to keep church leaders out of high school graduation ceremonies after a pastor asked students to “submit to God.”
A district parent reported that Maysville High School included prayer at its graduation ceremony. FFRF was informed that a local pastor was invited to the podium to deliver a prayer during the ceremony. The pastor began his religious speech with an immediate bible quotation: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
The pastor also asked the audience to bow their heads in a prayer over the graduates that contained numerous references to “lord God” and asked that God “assist [the graduates] as they acknowledge and submit to you.”
FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Kyle J. Steinberg wrote to the district over the concerns.
The district rightly concluded that students deserve the chance to celebrate their achievement in a religion-free ceremony. “Your letter prompted a review of the district’s commencement ceremony and of the legal issue you raised,” Superintendent Joe Daniels wrote in an email. “Considering the current court cases that have interpreted the First Amendment’s requirements as to religion and public schools, the district agrees that offering prayer at the commencement ceremony could be problematic. Therefore, the district is taking appropriate steps to alter this practice going forward for all school-sponsored ceremonies.”
Source: https://www.freethoughttoday.com/free/ffrf-victories-march-2026/
Highland Elementary School
Highland Elementary School
A district parent reported that Highland Elementary School held an assembly on Sept. 23, 2025, where a musician talked about their career. During the assembly, the musician played a music video of theirs which included lyrics such as, “So give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den, give me hope like Moses in the wilderness, give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense,” and “I’m gonna stand up, step out when you call, Jesus, Jesus.” The assembly was reportedly mandatory and parents were not notified that Christian music would be played to students.
“The school’s actions unconstitutionally coerced students, such as our complainant’s child, into listening to Christian music as part of an official school-sponsored assembly that they were explicitly, or at least impliedly, required to attend,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote.
Photo by Aaron James on Unsplash
FFRF received an email response from Assistant Superintendent Tim Zieroff, addressing the concerns raised in FFRF’s letter. Zieroff confirmed that some of the songs performed included Christian references within the lyrics, but also added that the speaker never discussed religion or promoted their religious views.
“That said, we recognize the importance of ensuring that all guest speaker experiences are appropriate for students and consistent with constitutional requirements,” Zieroff wrote. He concluded the email by listing newly implemented protocols for district guest speakers, which include screening any potential viewing materials, and enforcing that no part of future presentations are allowed to push religion onto students.
Source: https://www.freethoughttoday.com/free/ffrf-victories-march-2026/
Research Participants Wanted
Research Participants Wanted
by Matthew Dyer
During a lunchtime meal at the FFRF 2025 National Convention, I sat next to someone particularly interested in LifeWise’s presence here in Ohio. She’s doing some research for a new book she’s writing and asked us to pass along this request:
Hello! My name is Orit Avishai, a professor of sociology at Fordham University in NYC. I am conducting research for a book on church/state separation. As part of my research, I would like to speak to grassroots activists working on church/state or adjacent issues in their local communities. Conversations are confidential; I do not share any information about study participants. For more information about myself and my research, or to schedule, please contact me at avishai at fordham dot edu. Thanks for considering.
You can check out some of Dr. Avishai’s work here:
Article: Religion Goes Back to School (Contexts, 2025)
Article: Spreading the Gospel During School Hours (The Revealer, 2025)
Book: Queer Judaism (NYU Press, 2023)
Please note: Any third party articles, opinions, or commentary shared in our newsletter are the author's and do not necessarily represent FFRF's or COFFRF's official positions.
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