On March 10, the RSU #12 Board of Directors are slated to discuss their January decision to immediately cease use of the Wiscasset High School (WHS) “Redskin” mascot.
The discussion of the controversial issue, listed under old business in the board’s regular meeting agenda, comes in response to requests by the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen and the WHS Mascot Committee who have asked the Board to reconsider its decision.
The issue was put before Wiscasset residents on a non-binding referendum March 1 with an overwhelming majority supporting the continued use of the moniker.
In a letter to Wiscasset Selectmen dated Feb. 7, RSU #12 Supt. Gregory Potter wrote that school officials would monitor the vote closely. In the letter, Potter also cited a bill before the 125th Legislature that seeks a statewide ban on the use of Native American mascots in schools as another possible factor in the Boards ultimate decision.
On Jan. 13, the RSU #12 Board voted to “immediately” and “permanently” remove the mascot from all schools in the district, ending four months of renewed debate amongst faculty, students, administrators, and members of the Wiscasset community who had been wrestling with the emotionally charged issue.
The vote stunned many in attendance and led to a WHS student organized walk out the following morning. Potter, who said the mascot continues to be a very “difficult” issue to contend with, has maintained that those seeking recourse would have to do so through the Board. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with time devoted to public comment immediately before the mascot discussion.