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Board debates gym mural that could be perceived as Native American imagery; no decision made
Summary
Counsel advised the board that a gym mural likely depicts a Native individual and that removing or retaining it is primarily a policy choice; board members recommended student and community engagement before any district-level action.
During the Feb. 27 meeting the board heard from Melissa Huey of Drummond & Woodson about a gym wall image that some community members believe depicts a Native American head and may touch the recently enacted law barring schools from adopting names, symbols or images that depict Native Americans as mascots.
Huey told the board the image appears to depict a Native individual and that the law prohibits adoption of names or symbols that function as mascots, nicknames or logos. She added that because the law does not define those terms precisely, whether the mural is prohibited is often a policy decision rather than a pure legal one. "I do think that there's a chance that somebody could, assert a claim against the district," Huey said, noting litigation would likely be expensive even if the district ultimately prevailed.
Board members voiced a range of views. Several said the topic would be an excellent educational opportunity for current students to study the historical context and community feeling; others said the mural could be an important historical record and urged care to avoid whitewashing. One board member asked that the discussion continue with building-level stakeholders before any board decision.
No formal action was taken; the board closed the discussion and asked that community and student engagement inform next steps.
