Board responds simply to complex mascot issue

At the Jan. 24 Fayetteville Public Schools board meeting, the board voted 4-3 to remove mascots with human imagery to align with the mission/vision of FPS. (FPS Mission Statement: “We will personalize learning and exceed expectations every day in an inclusive and safe environment.”) Although I wholeheartedly agree we should work to align the mascots with the vision, I don’t necessarily agree that “removing human imagery” is the only way to go about making our children feel “safe and included.” In fact, I think it’s much, much deeper than that and honestly has nothing to do with a logo.

I’ve spent 13 years in service to our schools as PTO president for Root, McNair, Woodland and FHS this May. I’ve volunteered countless hours advocating for children and raising dollars to help even the most isolated child feel welcome and safe in our schools. It is my opinion that “removing human imagery” isn’t a band-aid that will instantly help or heal anyone. This is dividing our community in a time we should be coming together and I feel abruptly spending hard-earned taxpayer money on mascot replacement is putting the horse before the cart and will do more harm than good.

The schools should have been given the chance to educate themselves on all sides, hold town hall-style meetings, look at the financial impact, provide various options for solutions, and then, and only then, decide how they will align themselves with the mission statement. If at that point, one school or the other decided to remove human imagery, then OK. If, on the other hand, one school or the other decided they can align themselves with the mission statement in another way, that’s OK, too.

We all want what is best for the kids, but as it stands, I’m just not sure I agree with the process that has been set forth.

K.C. COTTON PUMMILL Fayetteville Member of Junior High Mascot Task Force