Despite wording issues at the first clarity hearing slowing them down, the three recall petitions filed by local group Save the Sandusky Logo (previously known as Save the Sandusky Mascot) against members of the Sandusky Board of Education had their language approved on Friday, January 13, thus starting the next steps in the process.
The group, which had filed their first petitions against Sandusky school board president Jason Trepkowski, board treasurer Daniel Gerstenberger, and board trustee Jane Jacobson back on December 15, claims in their most recently filed petition that the board members “fail[ed] to represent and listen to the voice of the public to retain the Redskin logo and voted to change the logo to Wolves on November 28, 2022.”
The petition was drawn up following the election commission’s initial 2-1 rejection of the petition, citing an unclear percentage gathered from petitions that the group claims show the community’s rejection of the new Wolves mascot.
Despite Gerstenberger noting in public comment that the statement could be seen as opinion, commission member and probate judge Gregory Ross said that while he does understand the argument of it being opinion versus fact, he, “believe[s] [the petition] has sufficient fact to it and it can be determined if it’s true or false.”
While it is unclear if and how far they will pursue the matter, the board members targeted in the recall have the option to file an appeal within 10 days to the circuit court on the decision. According to County Clerk Leslie Hilgendorf, who also serves on the election commission, the special election will cost about $29,588.50, and though her office is looking further into the matter, state law does dictate that a school district shall pay for any school election not held in conjunction with another election held by the township, city or county the district is in.
Recall efforts began shortly after Monday, November 28, when the Sandusky School Board voted 4-3 to adopt the Wolves as the new mascot, having retired the controversial Redskins moniker back in April 2022. Sandusky’s next school board meeting will be held on Monday, January 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the junior/senior high school.
