Reconnect Poster.jpg

Portland Public Schools acknowledged racial insensitivity for the second time in less than two weeks, reversing course on an ad campaign meant to reach dropouts that only featured people of color.

Portland Public Schools is taking down the posters after complaints from parents and at least one board member that the posters were racist. The move came a week after the district walked back a ban on rap music on school buses that drew allegations of racism.

"Portland Public Schools regrets the use of the specific photo that was used at bus stops and on the side of buses for the Reconnect Campaign," said Portland Public Schools spokeswoman Courtney Westling. "This particular ad includes students who graduated as a result of outreach efforts and the staff who are on the Reconnection Services outreach team, however it does not represent the students of all races and ethnicities that have been successful through the efforts of our reconnection work, nor does it represent all the races and ethnicities of students that need to be reengaged."

The poster in question featured four people, all of color. It is not the only ad for the district's Reconnect Campaign and other materials are more diverse.

Julie Esparza Brown, the only school board member of color, said she immediately began making calls about the poster when it came to her attention.

"I looked at that and said, 'Whoa this is a problem we need to fix," Brown said. "The message is we only expect our kids of color to be dropping out. What kind of message is that sending to our kids? "

She, like some parents, was still reeling from the district's ban on rap music, which received national attention.

The district ended the ban after media attention and has since issued new guidelines urging bus drivers to use their best judgment in regard to radio stations. Westling said there had been several complaints about what students were hearing on buses and the ban aimed limit offensive content. The district's initial directive banned rap, religious programming and talk radio. It listed country, pop and jazz stations as acceptable.

"I think being short staffed in the central office has led to some very unfortunate decisions. These two instances highlighted that sometimes there is a need to go down and make sure we are looking at our messages from all angles," Brown said. "It's not an excuse. We really need to be transparent in that these kinds of messages we are sending are not acceptable. We can't make these kind of errors it's harmful to our students."

When district employees aren't putting themselves through the paces to consider equity, good intentions are marred, Brown said.



The district has spent millions on a "Courageous Conversations" program to instill awareness about racial sensitivity among staff.



The program to reach dropouts is wonderful and the impulse to put some consideration into what is played on buses is a good one, Brown said.

Kim Sordyl, a parent known for keeping a watchful eye on the district, filed a formal complaint with the district over the poster after reaching out to school board vice chairwoman Amy Kohnstamm and finding her response lacking.

"Your dedication to equity contractors/department assures me you will take prompt action to remove these posters from buses, streetcars, businesses, and public places," Sordyl wrote in an email to Kohnstamm. "Your campaign promise for accountability tells me you'll ensure this doesn't happen again, and there will be repercussions."

Kohnstamm wrote back that the posters featured people who had been through the program and invited Sordyl to seek volunteers for the program.

Kohnstamm wasn't immediately available for comment over the Labor Day weekend and told The Oregonian/OregonLive she would discuss the posters next week.

Tensions regarding equity are high in Oregon's largest school district in the whitest major city in America.

In May, board members sparred over how to fund multicultural curriculum.

And in July, one board member went to the unusual measure of filing a formal federal civil rights complaint against the district. The complaint alleged schools serving poor and minority students in Portland lacked the electives and opportunities offered to whiter schools in richer areas of the city.

-- Bethany Barnes