The Austin ISD board of trustees voted unanimously to remove a phrase in district policy that prevented the renaming of Robert E. Lee Elementary School during its Nov. 23 meeting.

The board removed wording that made school names of special historical or geographical significance ineligible for renaming.

The strikeout of the phrasing allows the board the potential to move forward with directing Superintendent Paul Cruz to begin the process for renaming Lee Elementary.

For months, multiple parents of Lee Elementary students and community members have spoken during the public comment period of AISD board meetings, calling for a name change. Austin City Council Member Ora Houston, who represents council District 2, was one such speaker on Nov. 23.

“[The name is] offensive to people of African-American descent,” Houston said.

The board did not discuss any replacement names for Lee Elementary during its meeting.