WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Westerville City Schools Board of Education is considering rescinding a policy that allows absences for religious instruction during the school day.   The school board has its first reading of the new proposed policy at Monday’s board meeting.   Hundreds of people showed up, many wearing red or black to signify whether they were for or against religious instruction during school hours.   Watch: Westerville weighs rescinding religious release policy Right now, a Bible-based education program called LifeWise Academy takes about 300 Westerville elementary school students out of recess and lunch once a week.   The Westerville school board is concerned that taking the kids out of school causes disruption and distractions for all students.   “My concern around this policy has nothing to do with any specific religion or religious programs in general,” board president Kristy Meyer said. “It’s about utilizing the time we have with students in schools to focus on educating them and minimizing disruptions of the school day for students, teachers and staff.”   Those wearing red at Monday’s meeting want to continue the religious release program in the district, saying LifewWse is a good thing for their children.   “It was a minor problem that they were seeing, that there was a bit of a disruption, but I don’t think that’s a big enough reason to end the program for over 300 students,” said Kelly Walk, a Westerville parent whose children go to LifeWise Academy.   Those wearing black said the time for religious instruction is not during the school day.  “This has nothing to do with discrimination against a particular religion or this organization, but rather its placement directly in the middle of a school day when it could be provided before or after school,” Westerville parent Sarah McCarty said.   Four of the school board members spoke during the meeting about the policy, hinting that they are leaning toward rescinding it to keep students in school all day.   “These types of organized programs, I feel, are just best suited for children not in the middle of the school day,” board member Louise Valentine said.   The school board had its first reading on rescinding the religious release policy during the Monday night meeting. There still needs to be a second reading and then the Westerville school board will take a vote.