"I was growing up we didn't wear our religion on our sleeve, I just don't see a need for it to be everywhere," says parent Jackie Cordle.

Starting next year, students in Chesterfield County may have another elective to choose from- a one semester course on the bible that has been approved by the schools board.

"One of the requirements would be that it would have to be taught by either an English teacher or a history teacher,  it would not be a religion course, " says Shawn Smith with Chesterfield County Schools.

 But at a time when the county is already facing a $25 million budget shortfall, Frank Cardella of the Chesterfield Education Association questions why the board is even approving new electives.

"We are already going to have to take a look at the electives that we have and decide if we can support those, so you're just adding one more thing to the potential list of cuts," says Cardella.

If Chesterfield County Public Schools offers a bible elective next year they would be the only school district in the metro area to do so. In the U.S. 350 schools in 43 states offer a course on the bible and in Virginia, fewer than ten schools have a bible elective.

And Smith points out that there are many contingencies including funding for textbooks and teacher training and these would need to be worked out before the course could be offered.

"It is unlikely the program could move forward given the current economic climate provided that we are looking at preserving jobs. All the board approved is that the elective could take place," explains Smith.

 Academic study of the bible is legal in all 50 states.

Copyright 2009 by Young Broadcasting, Inc.