Local schools keeping names

SANDUSKY — The Redskins changed their name. But it wasn't the Port Clinton high school or the Washington NFL teams. Last week, school board members representing Forest Hills Schools, near Cincinnati, voted 4-1 to retire the Redskins name and mascot at Anderson High School. The change comes during a national reckoning with racial injustice as schools and sports teams are pressured to abandon names that are a "dictionary-defined racial slurs" by experts and advocates. A Port Clinton football helmet with a Redskins decal. Register file photo/ERIN CALDWELL Locally at Port Clinton and Bellevue schools, board members seem OK with waiting until community members protest the mascot names. "We recognize the sensitivity associated with our mascot," Port Clinton board members told the Register Tuesday. "We've always represented the Redskin name with respect, pride and honor but we recognize not all see it that way. Any name change would have to come with the support and input from our alumni and community." At Bellevue Schools, whose high school mascot is the Redmen, board president Steve Rucker said no one has approached board members about changing the name since he was elected in 2017. The board does, however, plan to discuss "social justice and equality for all" during strategic planning sessions with administrators, teachers, parents and district residents. "This conversation will include gathering input about our school mascot name from staff, students, parents, community members, and alumni," Rucker said. "The workgroup researched implicit bias last year and we are now ready to take a deeper dive into the social justice issues with meaningful conversation and the gathering of input from our stakeholders. These are challenging issues and we look forward to this work in our district on behalf of our future leaders, our students." Native American communities have long sought to convince professional sports teams to change names when it is deemed offensive, such as the Washington and Kansas City NFL teams, the Cleveland and Atlanta baseball teams and others. The Cleveland team announced it is considering a change. Last week, the owner of the Washington team announced the organization would consider making a change in name after vowing previously to never to do so. The change of mind comes in the wake of civil unrest since the May 25th death of George Floyd, which has caused a review of numerous "white privilege" practices, including removal of Confederate statues in public parks and the Rebel flag from statehouses in the South. Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood The press box at Bellevue High School's football stadium includes the high school's mascot name. Register file photo/ERIN CALDWELL