By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The School Committee approved a new policy on “Logos, Mascots and Team Names,” but the vote came only after a lengthy discussion at last week’s meeting during which the language was parsed and the policy’s intent was dissected and interpreted.
The policy was created by the School Committee’s Policy and Communications Subcommittee which includes Kevin Piskadlo, Stephen Ingalls and Amy Leeman. Per School Committee practice, it was laid on the table at the Sept. 14 meeting for two weeks consideration before last week’s vote.
The policy is rooted in a resolution passed by the School Committee following its decision last March to eliminate the Wakefield Warrior logo, which consisted of a an image of a Native American in a headdress.
The resolution apologized to “Indigenous peoples across Massachusetts and beyond for any harm that [the school’s] use of Native American imagery may have caused.”
The policy approved last week lays out the process that the creation of any new “logo, mascot or team name” must follow, beginning with the imminent choosing a new Wakefield Memorial High School athletic logo.
“To ensure a positive, inclusive and consistent representation of the school system to the community, mascots, logos and/or nicknames shall be respectful of diverse cultural identities/values and reflect a positive school image,” the policy states in its preamble. “Mascots, logos, team names and/or nicknames will not be derogatory or offensive to persons of any race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or age or persons with a disability. Neither should the mascot, logo, team name and/or nickname depict violence or abuse.”
School Committee member Ami Wall questioned why the word “sex” was used instead of “gender and/or “gender identity.” She also wondered if “creed” should be added.
In the end, the committee decided to have the policy mirror the language in the Wakefield Public Schools Non-discrimination and Harassment Policy, which states: “The Wakefield Public Schools is also committed to maintaining a school environment free of harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability.”
Wall also wanted to talk about the ‘committee’ that will be convened to chose a new school logo, mascot or team name.
The Policy reads: “The Superintendent or their designee (e.g. a school principal) shall create, based on the particular school community, a committee comprised of the following:
a. School principal or their designee
b. School faculty and staff member(s)
c. Students
d. School parent(s)
e. Community Member(s)
i. At Wakefield Memorial High School, WMHS Alumni and a representative of the athletic boosters should be included
The Superintendent or their designee shall make every effort to have current WPS students represent a majority of committee membership.”
Wall wanted to make sure that such a committee would be “balanced” and represent a broad range of viewpoints. The School Committee agreed to insert language to that effect.
Wall also asked for clarification of sections 4 and 5 of the policy, which cover how a new logo would be selected and presented to the School Committee.
After some discussion the School Committee settled on the following language: “All proposed school mascot, logo, team name or nickname selections and/or changes will be presented to the Superintendent for review. The Superintendent in consultation with the committee will make a recommendation(s) to the School Committee for final approval.”
Wall also wanted to know who would be able to initiate a request to change a logo, mascot or team name.
Stephen Ingalls, who was on the subcommittee that created the logo policy, said that he “envisioned” an “organic process” whereby a large enough student group at a school would go to the principal and express a desire to change a logo.
Wall was concerned that this scenario was “potentially something that could happen every year.” She wondered who would pay for that.
School Committee members dismissed the likelihood of annual changes. Committee chair Suzy Veilleux said that school principals or the superintendent would also be able to step in and exercise their influence in the case of frivolous requests.
The vote approving the policy was unanimous.
