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Joseph Lane Middle School will be renamed Brentwood Middle School; board approves mascot change
Summary
Following a community-driven renaming process, Portland Public Schools approved changing Joseph Lane Middle School’s name to Brentwood Middle School and selecting the Bears as the new mascot. School leaders and students cited historical research and community voting that yielded 414 ballots.
The board voted unanimously to change Joseph Lane Middle School’s name after students, staff, alumni and community members completed a multi-year renaming process.
Principal Rosemary L. Yousef outlined the committee’s community outreach and explained why the school avoided using the Joseph Lane name during the interim. The committee favored a geographic name; "Brentwood Middle School" received 207 votes of the 414 cast and the Bears emerged as the leading mascot choice after community input. Student leader Owen Bagby described the ballot results and student engagement in the process.
Professor Kristen Tyen, appearing as a public commenter, summarized historical research about Joseph Lane’s record in Oregon territorial politics and urged the district to adopt the change. The board emphasized that school communities typically pay for mascot and marquee changes and affirmed the student-led process. Resolution 7312 passed 7–0.
