Glastonbury hearing set on restoring high school's logo

Alex Wood, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Dec. 7—GLASTONBURY — The Board of Education plans a public hearing next week on an emotionally charged proposal to resume use of the Tomahawks name and logo for the high school's sports teams.

At a meeting held via teleconference Thursday, the board scheduled the hearing for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the high school auditorium. Board Chairman Douglas Foyle explained that board policy calls for a public hearing if 1% of the town's "electors," or registered voters, petition for one.

Town Clerk Michelle M. Krampitz had said in a Nov. 29 letter to school Superintendent Alan Bookman that there were 379 verified signatures on such a petition. She said Monday that there are 25,426 "active voters" in town. The number of verified signatures far exceeded the minimum of 254 that would have been needed to call the hearing.

The board voted, 7-1, in August 2020 to end use of the mascot in consideration of the feelings of Native American groups, several of which have objected to the use of such symbols.

Board member David Peniston Jr., who was a member of a three-member board subcommittee formed to solicit the opinions of Native Americans, said at the time that not one Native American expressed a "sense of pride" in the logo. He said their opinions were divided between wanting to get rid of the logo and not objecting to it.

Foyle said at the time that the board received a total of 150 written comments on the issue from the public. But the board didn't hold an in-person public hearing then because it was meeting via teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The petition presented to the board emphasized the lack of an in-person public hearing, saying the signers were offended both by the removal of the name and by the process used.

Mascot issue

RAISED BY: A petition bearing 379 "verified signatures" seeking restoration of the previous name and logo for Glastonbury High sports team.

NEXT STEP: The Board of Education will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in the high school auditorium.

NEW ISSUE: Possible loss of tribal gaming revenue by school systems that use Native American symbols without tribal consent.

Several months after the board acted, the high school's students voted to adopt Guardians as the name of the school's teams.

Foyle said in a statement Monday that, taking into consideration both Native American views and public comments, the board last year "concluded the Tomahawk mascot was not aligned with our district's goal to promote understanding and respect for all cultures. Instead of uniting our school community, it was dividing it."

He also confirmed that a provision in the state budget adopted in June would end payments of tribal gaming revenue to school systems that use Native American names without tribal consent.

A request for comments on the mascot issue placed on several Glastonbury Facebook groups Monday revealed that the issue still stirs passions in many, including those for whom "Tomahawk pride" has become an aspect of their identity.

"As a former Tomahawk I am in favor of the name being changed back to its original name," wrote Keith Galek. "To continue to censor the name is condemning those who wore the jersey with pride and respect and labeling them racists."

But Shana Berger replied, "I am also a former tomahawk. Changing the name does nothing to the memories I have of high school sports and condemns absolutely no one. It absolutely does not mean that those that wore the jersey are racists."

Paul Norman wrote, "I had no idea people were still so upset about the name change that they are putting energy into changing it back.

"Those folks, IMO, should let it go," he continued, using initials for "in my opinion." "Move on."

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