Tulsa superintendent says mascot names will stay but proposed policy would limit imagery; board to vote later
Summary
Superintendent clarified draft policy 2623 would not change school names like Webster Warriors or Central Braves but could restrict offensive mascot imagery; community members and tribal representatives urged careful consultation; board deferred a vote to a future meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Johnson told the Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education that a proposed prohibition on discriminatory school branding would not change the traditional names of schools but could require changes to mascot imagery determined to be offensive. "This policy would not change the traditional names of school mascots," Johnson said, adding that any future changes to imagery would be brought to the board and developed with students, tribal leaders and alumni.
The clarification came amid a packed public-comment period in which parents, alumni and Native American speakers urged different approaches. Bridal Calvert, a Webster High School graduate and Native American, said removing imagery without cultural consultation risks erasure: "It's like keeping the title of a book while tearing out its pages," she said, urging the district to allow authentic, tribally-approved representations. Other speakers including Larry Williamson and Howard Bennett urged the board to preserve mascots and traditions and warned the policy could be a step toward removing names.
Board members responded by stressing process and student voice. Several members, including Board Member Wooley, who identified as Native American, said students and the three tribes whose lands include Tulsa had been consulted and that the district must avoid caricature while honoring heritage. Vice President Moniz asked about district resources and emphasized that the district's academic challenges are not primarily explained by branding policy.
The superintendent said the district will teach the historical and cultural origins of school names and that any imagery changes would be developed collaboratively with tribal leaders, the Indian Education Committee and student groups. She gave the example of a large inflatable teepee-like prop at Webster that students requested be removed because it misrepresented their culture and would no longer be used.
The board did not vote on the policy at the meeting; President Susan Lamkin said policy 2623 would return for a future board vote after further refinement and consultation. The superintendent invited community members and tribal leaders to continue dialog, saying, "Let's sit down. Let's figure this out together."
