Belding Area Schools Vote To Change Their Mascot

Monday night, the Belding Area Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to drop the controversial Redskins mascot.

The push to change the mascot came at the end of this past school year when parents began asking for the board consider doing something different. Then, last month, tBelding Area Schools Board of Education asked for students and community members to share their thoughts on the situation. Listening to the concerns of the mascot being racist, they suggested changing the mascot but keeping the school colors of black and orange.

School officials say the push to change the mascot and names started in the early 2000s, it was then the board decided to transition to using the Old English B to represent the school rather than the mascot.

According to WOODTV:

“As we move forward, it’s been hidden even further and this parent group was just asking either bring the Redskins back and be proud and show it or move on,” Belding Area Schools Superintendent Brent Noskey explained to the audience Monday.

The vote took place at the regular board meeting, Monday night.  It passed 7-0, in favor of changing the mascot.

The board says the change will take effect at the start of the next school year.  They plan to discuss the process for selecting a new mascot during their January meeting.

Yes, they will be asking for input from the community and of course, the students.

source: WZZM, WOODTV