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Portland school board proclaims February as Black History Month
Summary
The Portland Public Schools board unanimously approved Resolution 7,243 recognizing February as Black History Month and affirming that African American history should be integrated into the curriculum year‑round.
The Portland Public Schools Board of Education voted to adopt Resolution 7,243, proclaiming February as Black History Month and urging the district to integrate African American history into curriculum year‑round. The motion was moved by Director Chase Miller and seconded by Director DePass; the board recorded the approval as 6–0 with Student Representative Retorto unofficially voting yes.
The resolution’s recitals that board members highlighted include language stating that “Black history is U.S. history” and an explicit board commitment to supporting integration of African American history throughout the school year rather than limiting instruction to February. Principal Andrea Porter Lopez, Assistant Principal Cezanne Tyner and five Woodlawn Elementary students (Kyrie, Ivy, Kennedy, Malik and EJ) addressed the board before the vote, describing classroom and assembly activities used at their school to teach the district’s students about Black history and culture.
Board members thanked the students and staff for their presentation and singled out two lines in the resolution as especially meaningful: the recognition that Black history is integral to U.S. history and the directive to integrate African American history into curriculum across the year. The board took no further action beyond adopting the proclamation.
Resolution 7,243 was adopted during the meeting’s opening segment. The board noted the proclamation will be posted with other meeting documents on the district website and that the superintendent’s office will coordinate any follow‑up distribution.
