Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education School Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tulsa Public Schools approves new mascot policy; community meetings set for Webster and Central
Summary
Commissioners heard that Tulsa Public Schools approved a policy banning discriminatory mascots and approved revisions to Webster and Central high school mascots; the district plans community meetings and outreach to Muscogee (Creek) and Osage Nations.
Commissioners were briefed that Tulsa Public Schools’ board approved a new policy to eliminate discriminatory mascots, symbols and artwork across the district and that the board also approved mascot revisions for Webster High School and Central High School.
According to the commission’s education report, the policy requires that new mascots be approved by the school board and that existing mascots and related imagery be reviewed to ensure they are not discriminatory. The district will hold a community meeting on Sept. 30 to involve parents, alumni and student leaders in planning revisions. The commission said it has reached out to tribal representatives because Webster is within Muscogee (Creek) Nation jurisdiction and Central sits within Osage Nation jurisdiction.
Commissioners said student leaders — including Native student leaders — were vocal in advocating to keep names while changing the mascots’ imagery to something positive; students will take part in the planning group. The commission thanked members who sent letters supporting the superintendent’s move to adopt the policy.
Tulsa Public Schools’ formal policy change and the board’s approval of mascot revisions were reported to the commission as completed actions taken by the school board; the commission itself is not the decision-maker for district mascot policy.
Ending: The commission will monitor the Sept. 30 community meeting and continues outreach to tribal nations and student groups as the district develops revised mascots and imagery.
