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Resident urges Piscataway board to review building names, mascot affiliations
Summary
During public comment the board heard extended remarks from Dr. Harold Fisher urging a review of school building names and Indian mascots; a community member offered to help and the superintendent said policy and community debate would be required.
Dr. Harold Fisher, a Piscataway resident, used the board's public comment period on April 4 to urge the district to review and, where appropriate, rename buildings and reconsider mascots tied to controversial historical figures.
Fisher traced local and national civil-rights history and urged the board to act. "I think it's time for a change," he said, arguing that names and symbols can cause "environmental microaggressions" and recommending renaming in consultation with the community.
Lisa Burke, a community member, followed and voiced support for Fisher's request: "As a community member, I'll be happy to volunteer for that effort," she said, offering to help convene a review. The board reopened public comment to hear the remarks after earlier business had been completed.
Superintendent Glover acknowledged the concerns and said recent proposed legislation would prompt some districts to examine names and mascots. He told the board the issue would require policy work, community discussion and a formal process: "This is the opportunity for the board to kind of do a wide-scale review," he said, but cautioned it could be a lengthy process requiring public input.
Board members did not adopt any immediate changes during the meeting; instead they said staff would take the remarks under consideration and that any formal review would involve community engagement and policy development.
