ELMA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Some local school districts have announced new names and mascots after the NYS Board of Regents voted unanimously in April 2023 to ban Native American mascots, team names, and logos in public school districts.
- The Iroquois Central School District, previously known as the Chiefs, will now be known as the Red Hawks.
- The Cheektowaga Central School District, previously known as the Warriors, will now be known as the Chargers.
- The Tonawanda City School District, previously known as the Warriors, will now be known as the Timberwolves.
- The Jamestown Public Schools, previously known as the Red Raiders, will now be known as the Red & Green.
READ MORE: Board of Regents approves ban on Native American logos, mascots in schools
“We are proud of what we’re going to be now as the Red Hawks,” says Superintendent Douglas Scofield of the Iroquois Central School District.
Scofield tells 7 News reporter Yoselin Person it took three thousand votes to determine the new mascot’s name.
“We are now going to be the Red Hawks starting July 1st and that received over 70% of the votes,” he says.
The Iroquois Central School District has yet to determine a design for its logo/mascot. But for now, they’re embracing the meaning behind their new name.
“It’s important to know that it stands for determination, focus, leadership, clarity, intelligence and intuitive decision-making,” says Scofield.
The Cheektowaga Central School District has also not yet determined a design for its logo/mascot, but says it is coming soon.
The Tonawanda school district has a design of its Timberwolves logo front and center on its website.
“The Timberwolves was the student leader with the most votes nearing 50% so it was a good process,” says Tonawanda City School District Superintendent Dr. Timothy A. Oldenburg. “It involved a lot of the community and stakeholders and it’s a direction for us to move forward.”
But this fresh breath of air comes with a price for all districts involved.
“I really wish the state will really help out since they initiated the change,” says Scofield. “It’ll cost us about $500,000. The majority of the cost, $200,000, will be towards the uniforms.”
The superintendent said the name of the district is not expected to change, "Names of districts are not changing. They had said that it's not part of the regulation. It's only the mascot and the logos and so that's where we are at this time."
The Jamestown Public Schools says although its name is changing to Red & Green the “Big Cat” mascot and logo that was adopted in 2022 will remain.
In May 2023, the Seneca Nation approved the Salamanca school district's continued use of the "Warrior" name and its logo despite the ban. Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr. said the district represented “the most unique of circumstances” because of its location on the nation's Allegany Territory, and large percentages of Native American students and staff.
