In addition to hearing a presentation from building and planning company SiteLogiq regarding the district’s next steps towards facility upgrades after the August approval of the $13 million bond proposal, the Sandusky Community School District Board voted 6-0 last night to reincorporate the original Native American head logo back into the school’s imagery.
According to board vice president Bob Hassler, the board’s policy committee, consisting of himself, board secretary Norah Harding, trustee Kelly Trowhill and district superintendent Kurt Dennis met Monday, August 5 and Tuesday, August 13 to discuss the possibility.
The logo has been an ongoing issue, with the district previously retiring the Redskins mascot/logo in April 2022 and approving the wolf mascot name/imagery in November 2022 in a 4-3 vote. The district had received almost $75,000 from the Native American Heritage Fund for signage, uniform and equipment rebranding in August 2023.
One recall election and three newly elected board members later, the issue was again on the agenda, with Monday night’s meeting seeing the board discuss what reincorporation would look like.
While the board does plan to bring the Native American chief’s head logo back by way of optional patches for student athletes to add to their uniforms, a historical exhibit featuring past memorabilia, and a special focus on the area during Native American month in November, the board does not plan to bring back the Redskin name. Doing so, the board believes they will not face any “financial consequences” for the change from the Native American Heritage Fund, despite the NAHF initially denying the school’s 2022 application for $165,000 in grant money because the district did not have a new mascot/logo to rebrand with at that time.
Harding abstained from last night’s vote on the issue. The board meets again on Monday, September 16, at 7:30 p.m.
