LIBERTY –– While the Liberty Central School District has yet to choose a new mascot in adherence with a recent state mandate, the process forward was made clearer to community members who attended a forum in the high school auditorium on Tuesday evening.

As the Democrat previously reported, the New York State Education Department (SED) mandated that all schools stop using Native American mascots, logos and imagery. Failure to adhere to the mandate carries penalties, which Liberty Central School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan told forum attendees includes the risk of losing around $25 million in State aid annually.

Following a recent State Supreme Court ruling, the SED determined that Liberty and dozens of schools across the state, who use Indian mascots and imagery, are in violation of The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).

DASA prohibits “the creation of a hostile environment … that … reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause … emotional harm to a student,” a condition that could be created through the use of Native American mascots, the SED has stated. 

Since the early 2000s, districts have been encouraged to move away from use of these symbols, but many continued to use the Indian mascot, believing that it is meant to honor the native tribes. The SED added in its mandate that arguments that community members support the use of such imagery or that it is ‘respectful’ to Native Americans are no longer tenable.

Sullivan explained that the district had previously made adjustments in their imagery such as using the Liberty shield and an “L” with a feather on it. The district also had discussions about its mascot in 2020 but put that on hold in order to focus their attention on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Timeline

It’s anticipated that the mascot amendment will be adopted by the State’s Board of Regents in April, and be effective as of early May.

Affected schools’ boards of education must commit, via resolution, to eliminating the use of all Indigenous names, logos and mascots, by the end of the 2022-23 school year, and have a plan in place to comply with the mandate, which will have to occur by no later than the end of the 2024-25 school year. 

Steps the district have taken so far include meeting with representatives of the Lenape Tribe, who Sullivan said noted that the use of the “Indians” logo and imagery was offensive, administering a survey seeking input from the community and conducting Tuesday’s forum.

Moving forward the district will gather input from the survey, seek volunteers to join the Mascot Committee, establish how they will choose their next mascot and communicate an implementation plan. 

The forum

One of the questions asked by a member of the public was what the cost would be to make the changes stated in the mandate. Sullivan said they haven’t gotten there yet, but that the cost will be entirely on the district. 

School Board President John Nichols added, however, that what the district chooses as its new mascot will impact that dollar figure. For example, if they choose a mascot where some of their currently existing imagery, like the “L” with a feather on it, could still apply, the district’s cost will be less.

It was also noted by a member of the district’s faculty that a lot of the Native American imagery in the elementary, middle and high school isn’t up, so a transition period had already been taking place.

The final question Sullivan was asked was if he’s received any feedback from students. He said the district survey had around 440 responses so far, some of which were students.

“In informal conversations … like the members of the community,” explained Sullivan, “there are some students that embrace the change, and others who feel disheartened about [it].” 

The district’s mascot survey is still open until February 17. You can find it on www.libertyk12.org.