The state budget apparently won’t include funding for schools forced to change their mascot and names after an education department ruling last week.
That ruling prohibits public schools from using names, mascots, or logos inspired by Indigenous people.
Districts must submit plans by the end of June outlining how they will remove all traces of the now-banned names by the end of the next academic year.
School districts across the state, like Canandaigua, have been impacted by it. Leaders there have advocated for funding from the start, and pointing to the cost associated with changing names, mascots, and other materials associated with their identities as a reason for pause.
Upgrading uniforms, fields, equipment, and school buildings will cost hundreds of thousands in small districts, and could run up to millions in larger ones. That said, the state doesn’t appear interested in helping out.
The state has indicated that building aid, or state funding can be used to cover costs associated with the mandated changes.
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