Toledo City board proclaims Black History Month and unanimously opposes Ohio House Bill 42

The Toledo City School District Board of Education on Feb. 24 adopted a resolution recognizing Black History Month and reaffirming the district’s commitment to accurate instruction and nondiscrimination. Bishop Parker read the resolution to the board before the roll‑call vote.

The board also unanimously approved a resolution opposing Ohio House Bill 42, which board members said would require schools to collect immigration or citizenship information. The resolution cites the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code and says the bill could jeopardize federal funding and undermine trust between schools and families.

Sheena Barnes, the legislative and policy co‑chair, framed the HB 42 resolution as a protection of student privacy and access to education, saying the district must “protect school privacy, comply with federal law and ensure we make schools safe and welcoming environments where all students can learn and thrive without fear.” The resolution calls on state lawmakers to avoid policies that would divert educational resources to enforcement objectives.

Board members spoke during a short discussion period in support of both resolutions. Several members said the proposed state legislation could have a chilling effect on students’ access to public education and would place additional, unfunded responsibilities on school staff. Those concerns were discussed generally and were not attributed to a single speaker in the official roll call.

Both resolutions were approved on voice/roll‑call votes with affirmative responses recorded for the members on the dais.

The board’s action places the district formally on record opposing HB 42 and reaffirms district commitments to nondiscrimination, accurate teaching of history and privacy protections for student records.