Communities across Hanover were taken by surprise after Tuesday’s announcement that four schools did not get the signatures necessary to have religious exercises in the coming school year. 

According to the Hanover School Division’s policy at least 60 signatures must be gathered to allow religious instruction to occur at schools throughout the year. These programs happen outside of the normal school day, either before or after school. Children are not required to participate, and parents must sign their children up to participate.

However, Green Valley School, Niverville High School, Landmark Collegiate, and Landmark Elementary School were unable to get the necessary 60 signatures in before the April 30 deadline and so will be without the morning devotional time in the coming school year.

Among the residents shocked by this first-time occurrence were the pastors from the respective communities.

Pastor John Neufeld of Bergthaler Church in Grunthal said "we’ve been very surprised by this because we were very confident we had a surplus of signatures. So now we are doing some further explorations to see what caused this shortfall.”

Neufeld says that he has already received numerous texts and emails from community members who were baffled by this outcome and says he plans on investigating to figure out what happened.

“Did some forms get missed? Did some of them not get turned in? We are looking at this right now.”

Meanwhile, Landmark Christian Fellowship Pastor Paul Martens says the failure of either school in his community to get the correct amount of signatures is puzzling. He too believes they had enough local interest to keep religious exercises in the Landmark schools.

“It is unfortunate that this thing has happened and, based on surrounding circumstances, I’m hoping there can be a reversal.”

Martens has appealed to the School Board asking them to reconsider and recount the signatures that may have not been originally included.

Neufeld is hoping for something similar in Grunthal, however, he recognizes that the Hanover School Division does have to uphold their policies.

“We’re hoping that we can see this revived if not this year then certainly next year," Neufeld said. "Perhaps this is a wake-up call to be more proactive in ensuring all of the forms are being signed and returned.”

Both pastors remain in contact with the division as the situation is reviewed.