This is part of a series of stories featuring local organizations that received Bluffton, Beaverdam, United Way funding.

The Bluffton Release Time/Weekday Christian Education (RT/WCE) classes were introduced in the fall of 1924. The first teacher was Miss Ruth Yoder who had training and a master’s degree in religious education. She taught in the classroom for the grade school children at Bluffton.

In the ‘30s the high school was added to the program. With new laws involving separation of church and state, the classes were moved to the First Mennonite Church which was located across the street from the Elementary School. Mrs. Jean Yoder (1955-1961) was the last RT/WCE teacher to teach in a classroom in the school. This is also when the program went back to only teaching elementary classes; however by 2010 classes were again offered to grades 6-8 in addition to the elementary.


The program is supported by an Inter-church board, 20 participating churches, Bluffton United Way and donations from parents and other groups and individuals. The tuition is $25.00 per student for the year. All children are welcome to attend regardless of ability to pay thanks to scholarship money provided by United Way funding.

United Way is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 counties and territories. The United Way vision is for a world where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives.

The RT/WCE board includes three executive board members, the teachers, and representatives from each of the participating churches. These representatives also coordinate walkers to escort children from the school to RT/WCE classes and back again. Four teachers are on staff: Jodie Conley 1st grade, Mary Ina Hooley 2nd and 3rd grades, Janice Basinger 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, and Hannah Slechter 7th and 8th grades.

In total there are 433 students attending from the 1st - 5th grades. This equals a total percentage of 91% for the entire elementary school. Students in grades 6-8 come only if they have a study hall, so the number of students attending varies. An estimated 90 to 130 middle school students attend throughout the year.