{"id":2587276,"date":"2026-04-05T08:34:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-school-district-folds-allows-teacher-to-observe-extra-religious-holy-days\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T08:36:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:36:40","slug":"ohio-school-district-folds-allows-teacher-to-observe-extra-religious-holy-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-school-district-folds-allows-teacher-to-observe-extra-religious-holy-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio School District Folds, Allows Teacher to Observe Extra Religious Holy Days"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fohio-school-district-folds-allows-teacher-to-observe-extra-religious-holy-days%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2587276&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An Ohio school district resolved a dispute over religious observance by granting an accommodation to a longtime teacher. Shawnae Carlisle,a 15-year employee of the Salem City School District and a member of the church of God,Worldwide Association,had sought unpaid time off to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">observe religious holy days<\/a>,including the Feast of Tabernacles. After years of requests being denied, carlisle was suspended for five days without pay when she took the days off anyway. Represented by First Liberty Institute, the group argued the district had given arbitrary reasons for the denial. Following a demand letter and advocacy, the district announced on March 24 that Carlisle would be allowed to observe religious holy days going forward, with unpaid time off in accordance with her faith. The outcome was described by First Liberty and Carlisle\u2019s supporters as a win for religious liberty, emphasizing the importance of accommodating faith in the workplace.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Salem City School District in Ohio granted a longtime teacher the ability to observe additional holy days last week, recognizing her rights under the First Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>Shawnae Carlisle, who has taught at the district for 15 years, is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association &mdash; a small coalition of churches that marks Old Testament holidays, which Christian denominations have historically not done.<\/p>\n<p>But Carlisle has been requesting these days off from work for years without issue &mdash; until the district rejected her request for time off for the Feast of Tabernacles in October.<\/p>\n<p>First Liberty, which represented Carlisle, <a href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/cases\/shawnae-carlisle\/#simple1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> that district officials were &ldquo;giving arbitrary and inconsistent reasons for why she could not attend the Feast of Tabernacles.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Carlisle took the days off anyway &mdash; and was sanctioned as a result.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); 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\t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Ms. Carlisle was unwilling to jeopardize her faith and continued to secure substitute coverage so she could observe her religious practice,&rdquo; First Liberty added.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The school subsequently suspended her without pay for five days.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The legal nonprofit <a href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/media\/religious-liberty-law-firm-praises-ohio-school-district-for-granting-religious-accommodation-to-employee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> on March 24 that Salem City School District had agreed to grant her accommodation, which permits her to &ldquo;take unpaid time off to observe various religious holy days in accordance with her faith.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The organization had previously sent the district a demand letter asking that they reverse course.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are grateful that after receiving our letter about Ms. Carlisle&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-ben-sasse-grills-biden-hhs-nominee-xavier-becerra-seems-to-trap-him-on-last-question\/\" title=\"Sen. Ben Sasse Grills Biden HHS Nominee Xavier Becerra, SEEMS TO Trap Him On Last Question\">religious liberty rights<\/a>, the Salem City School District reversed its prior suspension of Ms. Carlisle for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >observing religious holy days<\/a> and instead agreed to accommodate her religious observances going forward,&rdquo; Cliff Martin, senior counsel at First Liberty, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">After observing religious holy days for 14 years without incident, elementary school teacher Shawnae Carlisle was punished with a 5-day unpaid suspension. We stepped in, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-just-a-joke-california-mom-fires-back-after-school-wont-let-daughter-sing-national-anthem\/\" title=\"\u2018It\u2019s Just A Joke\u2019: California Mom Fires Back After School Won\u2019t Let Daughter Sing National Anthem\">school reversed<\/a> course! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/16ExyV9jTs\">pic.twitter.com\/16ExyV9jTs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; First Liberty Institute (@firstliberty_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/firstliberty_\/status\/2037180411650994625?\">March 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Salem City School District&rsquo;s actions demonstrate how all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calif-gov-newsom-announces-2b-plan-to-reopen-schools-by-spring\/\" title=\"Calif. Gov. Newsom announces B plan to reopen schools by spring\">school districts<\/a> can and should respect their religious employees.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ashbrook Byrne Kresge Flowers LLC assisted with the legal defense of Carlisle.<\/p>\n<p>Ben Flowers, an attorney at the firm, said that &ldquo;both teaching and faith are important to Ms. Carlisle.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He expressed gratitude that the situation appears to have been resolved.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No one should be forced to violate their religious beliefs in order to keep their job, and we are glad that with this new religious accommodation, she will not have to choose between the two.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8211; In Ohio, Salem City School District granted veteran teacher Shawnae Carlisle, who is a member of the Church of God, Worldwide Association, the right to observe additional religious holy days. Carlisle had requested time off for Old Testament holidays for years without issue until her request for the Feast of Tabernacles was denied in October.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Carlisle proceeded to take the days off and was disciplined with a five-day unpaid suspension. First Liberty Institute, Carlisle\u2019s legal representative, criticized the district for giving arbitrary and inconsistent reasons for blocking her holiday observance.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; On March 24, the district agreed to accommodate Carlisle\u2019s religious observances by allowing unpaid time off, following a demand letter from First Liberty.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Cliff Martin, senior counsel at First Liberty, said the district\u2019s reversal of the suspension and its accommodation reflected the rights of religious employees. <\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Ashbrook Byrne Kresge Flowers LLC assisted Carlisle\u2019s defense; Ben Flowers from the firm noted that both teaching and faith are important to Carlisle and expressed relief that she will no longer have to choose between them. He emphasized that no one should have to violate their beliefs to keep a job.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Overall, the case demonstrates that school districts can and should respect employees\u2019 religious practices<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2587277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Michael-Featured-Image-878.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5152,4333,77184,77185,74620],"class_list":["post-2587276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-education","tag-ohio","tag-religious-accommodations","tag-religious-holidays","tag-school-district-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Michael-Featured-Image-878.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2587276"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2587280,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587276\/revisions\/2587280"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2587276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2587276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2587276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}