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Board unanimously approves purchase of 1 North for Center for Black Student Excellence
Summary
Following strong community testimony and staff due diligence, Portland Public Schools unanimously authorized the superintendent to complete acquisition of the 1 North building for the Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE), with staff noting operational costs and an estimated short-term tax liability covered by bond funds.
The Portland Public Schools board voted unanimously Dec. 2 to authorize the superintendent to complete the purchase of the 1 North building as the permanent home for the Center for Black Student Excellence.
The vote on resolution 7215 came after more than an hour of public comment from community leaders, elected officials and researchers who urged the board to honor voter intent and community planning. State Rep. Travis Nelson and community leaders called the CBSE a generational investment in culturally responsive education and community infrastructure.
"Our kids deserve it, and our state's education system needs it," Rep. Travis Nelson said in public testimony urging swift action on the acquisition. (SEG 3621-3628)
Staff told the board they had completed due diligence and outlined operating-cost coverage. Board members asked whether ownership would create any unanticipated tax liability; staff clarified that an estimated PPS tax liability through June 30, 2026, would be about $115,000 and would be paid at closing with bond funds, not from operating classroom budgets.
Community leaders and CBSE organizers highlighted proximity to neighborhoods that historically enrolled many Black students and argued 1 North offered both cultural significance and practical access for families. Former board members, local nonprofit leaders and educators described the building as well-located and urged the board not to delay further on a project long promised to voters in the 2020 bond measure.
Board deliberations noted the project has strong community backing and that the purchase price and expected renovation needs fall below the voter-authorized allocation for the CBSE. The board moved, seconded and passed resolution 7215 with a 7-0 vote.
What happens next: Staff will close on the property, begin programming and design work, and incorporate community partners into planning for the CBSE. The district indicated that operating costs will be shared among tenant arrangements, grants, and the district operating budget as appropriate, and short-term liabilities will be handled with bond funds to avoid immediate impact on student-facing services.
The unanimous vote followed a meeting in which both deep community support and detailed staff analysis were placed on record, signaling the board's commitment to advance the site acquisition immediately.
