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Lake Oswego School District adopts Black History Month resolution; student leaders outline events
Summary
The Lake Oswego School District board unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing February as Black History Month and encouraging instructional activities across the year. Lakeridge High School Black Student Union president Chase Merrill described student events, including a Feb. 22 community celebration.
The Lake Oswego School District board adopted a resolution recognizing February as Black History Month and encouraging district schools to “infuse instructional learning activities to incorporate the contributions of Black Americans throughout the school year.”
The resolution recounts the history of African Americans’ forced arrival in the Americas, local exclusionary laws in Oregon and Lake Oswego’s small Black population, and cites the year’s national theme focused on African Americans and labor. The board voted to adopt the resolution by voice vote after a motion and second.
Why it matters: The resolution directs the district to emphasize Black history and contributions across curricula and signals a district-level commitment to inclusive education and community observances.
Before the board vote, Chase Merrill, identified as Black Student Union president at Lakeridge High School, described recent and upcoming student-led events. Merrill said the BSU hosted a voter-education event in October that included about 15 organizations such as Unite Oregon and the League of Women Voters, which helped students register and understand voting procedures. Merrill also promoted a Feb. 22 joint BSU Black History Month celebration at Lakeridge from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., featuring student performances, storytelling, a local-history workshop and a panel of local Black leaders.
Board clerk or members moved and seconded the resolution; the board chair called for those in favor, and the motion was adopted by voice vote.
The student speaker also outlined a Rose Festival fundraiser on Feb. 14 to raise money for end-of-year events and noted community catering for the Feb. 22 celebration. The resolution and student remarks were offered during the board’s agenda item on Black History Month and were followed by the board’s unanimous voice vote to adopt.
