Wappingers school board reintroduces discussion on changing school's mascot

A mascot debate is beginning once again in a Dutchess County school district.
The debate involves whether to change Roy C. Ketcham's "Indian" mascot in the Wappingers Central School District.
Yvonne Gor, a 2001 Ketcham graduate, began a petition to retire it last year.
“It really, really bothered me, and I wanted to change it. For the students who are currently in the district, for other Native American students in our district that would see themselves represented as a caricature in that way," says Gor.
After tabling the topic to focus on in-person learning, the Wappingers school board reintroduced the discussion Monday.
The board president told News 12 that a board member “will invite the Wappinger local descendants, as well as the Stockbridge Munsee community-band of Mohicans to give presentations at a mutually convenient board meeting. The BOE will have the opportunity to ask questions following each presentation.”
Current and past alumni and Wappingers residents will then have two weeks to submit questions to district clerk. Those answers will be posted online, and then the board will decide - if they have enough information.
So far, no date has yet been set for the initial presentations.
Last year, John Jay High School in Cross River and Nyack High School in Rockland County both decided to change from having an “Indian” mascot.