SCHOHARIE — A storm was brewing.
Out of 1,952 online ballots casted over two weeks, voters selected the Storm to be Schoharie Central School District’s next mascot over the Vale, Titans, Coyotes and Hawks.
SCSD policy makers will review the vote before making an official announcement later in April as the district phases out its longtime “Indians” mascot.
The shift is the result of a directive issued last year by the state Education Department. The directive pushed public schools to toss out Native American-themed branding in order to avoid losing state funding.
All school boards must begin the removal process by the end of this school year and remove all associated images by the fall, per NYSED guidelines.
SCSD began phasing out items associated with its Indigenous-themed warrior years ago, expecting state higher-ups to eventually take action against what some have perceived as offensive imagery.
Members of the district have split into separate factions over the issue: the pro-change Schoharie Central New Alma Mater group and Mascot Collaboration group, and anti-change Change it from Mascot to Mentor and Keep it Schoharie Indians group.
Proponents of the change to the nickname argue that “Indians” branding is racist and antiquated, while opponents believe the state is overstepping its hand to needle seeming non-issues.
Cambridge Central School District filed an appeal this past winter to keep its “Indians” mascot.
Fonda-Fultonville Central School District attempted to keep its mascot name, the Braves, after getting the greenlight from a local tribe leader. The move was rejected by the Board of Regents.
Hoping to accommodate both sides of the issue, Glens Falls City School District in recent years began replacing its “Indians” headdress logo with an arrowhead. As a result of NYSED’s directive, GFCSD recently chose to rebrand as the Black Bears.
Tyler A. McNeil can be reached at 518-395-3047 or [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook at Tyler A. McNeil, Daily Gazette or Twitter @TylerAMcNeil.
Categories: -News-, Fulton Montgomery Schoharie
