Deadline for mascot removal to be set for end of 2024-25

On Board Online • December 19, 2022

By Paul Heiser
Senior Research Analyst

School districts with Native American mascots would have until June 2025 to eliminate them under a proposed state regulation.

The state Board of Regents was presented with the proposed regulation on Dec. 12. This follows a Nov. 17 memo announcing such a prohibition, which would affect an estimated 65 school districts.

The regulation would prohibit the use of Indigenous names, mascots or logos by public schools but would not affect the names of school buildings or school districts named after an Indigenous tribe.

The text defines an Indigenous name, mascot or logo as "a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to Indigenous persons, tribes, nations, individuals, customs, symbols, or traditions, including actual or stereotypical aspects of Indigenous cultures, used to represent a public school, including but not limited to such schools sports teams."

The regulation would:

• Require boards of education to adopt, by the end of the current school year, resolutions that outline plans to eliminate all use of the prohibited name, logo or mascot "within a reasonable time, which shall be no later than the end of the 2024-25 school year." An extension may be granted if a school district shows "good cause."
• Prohibit anyone located on school property or at a school function who is a not member of a tribal nation from using or promoting any Indigenous name, logo or mascot.

The Regents would create an exception if an agreement exists in writing between the tribal nation and public school prior to the effective date of the proposed rule.

Regent Roger Tilles asked SED staff how a name that might not be connected with Native Americans, such as "Warriors," would be handled by the department. He was told that those decisions would be based on the name's origins and history. The Regents were informed that the State Education Depatment will convene an advisory council to consider such matter in January. The council will include Indigenous people.

The proposed amendment will be published in the State Register on Dec. 28, 2022, providing for a 60-day public comment period. The proposed amendment is expected to be presented for permanent adoption at the April 2023 Regents meeting. If adopted at that time, the proposed amendment will become effective as a permanent rule on May 3, 2023.