A special Tulsa school committee will move forward the name “Council Oak” to replace the “Robert E. Lee” name on one of Tulsa's oldest elementary schools.
The Lee name is offensive to some in the community because its is tied to slavery and the Civil War. Earlier this summer, the school board voted to drop "Robert E " and just call it 'Lee Elementary". Some board members and school patrons felt that did not go far enough, so the process was started over.
The recommendation goes to the school board for consideration. The “Council Oak” is a tree, just a few blocks away from the school, where Creek tribal members first met upon their arrival in Oklahoma on the Trial of Tears.
The school board will consider the change at its August 6th meeting.
The following email was sent to Lee patrons late last night:
July 24, 2018 Dear Lee families, educators and friends, This evening, the ad hoc committee charged with renaming our treasured school came together to finalize our nomination for our new school name. After many hours of thoughtful dialogue, informed by community engagements and feedback, the ad hoc committee is pleased to announce the nomination of “Council Oak Elementary School” as our new school name. Council Oak is just a few hundred yards northwest of our school. Council Oak and our school are on the same Creek allotment of Wehiley Naharkey, surrounded by the Creek allotments of many names well known even today, such as Perryman, Coney, Woodward, Tuckabachee, Childers, Tiger, Hickory and many more. Council Oak represents the historic founding of Tulsa. Council Oak symbolizes hope, the continuity of civilization, the value of conversation and dialogue in the face of injustice and perseverance. In the coming week, more information will be shared regarding the rationale and considerations in this nomination through a formal nomination to the Tulsa Board of Education. We anticipate that our nomination will be considered by the Tulsa Board of Education during their August 6 meeting. Those meetings take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Selman Room at the Education Service Center (3027 S. New Haven Ave. in Tulsa). Please feel free to attend that meeting and be part of this important moment in our shared history.