Corvallis school board considers renaming several elementary schools

The national conversation about sistemic racism continues -- at least*three schools in corvallis could be getting new names.

The school board is considering immediately renaming several elementary schools -- that*some members say --- are named after racist u-s presidents.

Kezi 9 news reporter jacob roberts is live in the studio tonight to break down how this process will work -- jacob?

One school board member says he went through each of the schools in the district and found three with names that need immediate changing.

Vincent adams says this was partly spurred by nationwide protests and a recent decision by princeton university to remove the name of president woodrow wilson from one of their buildings.

The corvallis school board held a special meeting earlier this week to consider the resolution.

If passed, it would immediately remove the name of presidents woodrow wilson, herbert hoover and thomas jefferson from three elementary schools.

It would also pave the way for a review of the names of all the other schools in the district.

Leaders said woodrow wilson and herbert hoover were openly racist and thomas jefferson was a slave owner.

While many on the board agreed about a need for change, some said this resolution doesn't give enough time for the community to weigh in.

"when you're naming or renaming, you do some heavy- duty committee work and community input and you take some people's thoughts and then you bring back to the board some recommendations.

But i don't think that's what this resolution is about" some board members said this is not about erasing history or taking away from the contributions these men made to society.

As for replacement names, the resolution would require at least one school in corvallis have a name that honors local indigenous people.

Preference would be given to those who fought for social justice.

The board will discuss all of this further at their meeting on thursday.

Live in the studio,