Port Jervis among local school districts pushing back against state mandate to change sports team names
The Port Jervis School District is joining in on growing pushback surrounding a state directive requiring it, and other districts, to change the name tied to their sports teams.
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The Port Jervis School District is joining in on growing pushback surrounding a state directive requiring it, and other districts, to change the name tied to their sports teams.
The New York Education Department mandate requires schools change sports team names previously tied to indigenous imagery and is set to begin July 1. It comes less than two years after a statewide ban on Native American symbols in public schools.
Port Jervis removed indigenous imagery years ago while keeping their name, “Red Raiders.”
Superintendent John Bell issued a statement saying, in part, that the name is meant to honor the area’s Native American history while noting the “extremely expensive unfunded mandate” will require changes to names on gym floors, turf fields, scoreboards and uniforms.
“What we are asking for is to let us keep the name and be sure to lose all symbols or imagery, if they aren't gone already. It is a commonsense compromise.”
News 12 talked to area residents about the controversy and got mixed reaction.
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” says Armando Avila.
Ray Storms, from Port Jervis, says, “I honestly feel as though the name they have is an insult to Native American Indians.”
Three schools on Long Island are suing the state over the mandate and local state lawmakers wrote a letter to the education department commissioner to reconsider.
Minisink and Highland Falls school districts are in the same predicament – along with roughly 100 schools statewide.
“We believe the use of the name Warrior has many has many purposeful definitions and is used by many, including us for decades, to simply represent bravery, courage, tenacity, vigor, strength and someone who is strong and doesn’t give up,” says Minisink School district director of communications Nancy Kriz. “We believe the district should be able to continue to use the name.”
Highland Falls Superintendent Michael McElduff also wrote a letter to NYSED requesting reconsideration of the mandate, which he says was endorsed by the Tribal Council of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, that stated in part:
“While we fully support the efforts made by the State Education Department when the guidance stated May 2023 was issued, it was somewhat disheartening to our district that our school districts are required to eliminate the use of team names that are or have been associated with indigenous imagery or symbols, even if they do not directly connect to indigenous imagery or symbols.”
The state-required changes follow years of protests from indigenous groups that said the references were offensive. Critics, however, say names like “Warriors” or “Chiefs” have many connotations aside from those tied to Native Americans.
News 12 reached out to NYSED for comment but hasn’t heard back.
