School board meetings have been increasingly contentious in districts around the state including Bend-La Pine, Albany and Newberg. Conservative school board members recently elected after appealing to people frustrated by COVID-19 restrictions are reflecting deep divisions in these communities. These same candidates are also resistant to schools’ efforts to talk more frankly about race and racism in the curriculum. At a recent school board meeting in Newberg, newly elected school board members advocated for banning Black Lives Matter Signs and gay pride flags in district facilities, as well as repealing anti-racist policies previously enacted by the board and the state Legislature. The school board in Albany recently voted to fire its superintendent, Melissa Goff. Though the board did not give a reason, Goff believes it has to do with her diversity, equity and inclusion work at the district.

We talk with Goff and hear from OPB education reporter Elizabeth Miller.