RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the New York State Board of Regents has amended Subchapter E of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education by adding a new Part 123, “Use of Indigenous Names, Logos, or Mascots Prohibited”; and WHEREAS, Part 123 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education defines “Indigenous name, logo, or mascot” as “a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to Indigenous persons, tribes, nations, individuals, customs, symbols, or traditions, including actual or stereotypical aspects of Indigenous cultures, used to represent a public school, including but not limited to such schools sports teams;” and WHEREAS, Part 123 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education requires that “no public school in the State of New York may utilize or display an Indigenous name, logo or mascot other than for purposes of classroom instruction;” and WHEREAS, the New York State Education Department advises, by memo dated April 6, 2023 from Angelique Johnson-Dingle, that “it is the responsibility of each school board to determine the applicability of the regulation and ensure their district’s compliance therewith;” and WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the Board of Education of the Webster Central School District to determine the applicability of Part 123 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education with respect to the District’s names, logos, and mascots; and WHEREAS, local use of the name “Warriors” to refer to a ‘courageous or experienced soldier or fighter’ coincides with the opening of the Schroeder High School in the Webster Central School district, when the school reopened as a separate high school in the fall of 2002. WHEREAS, the earliest known Webster Schroeder (Central School District) logo was in the sports pages of the 1987 Webster High School Reveille yearbook, and featured the block “W”; and WHEREAS, the Board of Education is not known to have ever taken any official action regarding the “W,” script or “WS” logo; and WHEREAS, the unofficial script writing and ‘WS’ has been modified and updated several times, including in 2002 and in 2009, but has never had any Indigenous associations. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education determines as follows: 1. Part 123 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education are not applicable to Webster Central School District’s mascot name, “Warriors;” or the district logos and
2. The Warriors mascot and images have not had Indigenous associations. 3. The Webster Central School District will maintain the logo, mascot, and team name of “Warriors,” unless and until an authorized representative of the New York State Education Department determines that the logo mascot, or team name “Warriors” violates Part 123 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and orders the discontinuance of the same. MOTION MADE BY ____________________________________________. SECONDED BY ________________________________________________. Yes ______ No ______ Abstain ______ Date: ________________________ ___________________________________ District Clerk Webster Central School District