The Canandaigua City School District is among those that will have to change its name after a state ruling about Indigenous mascots and team names.
While they hoped to get Seneca Nation approval to keep ‘Braves’, or even utilize ‘Brave’, neither of those options were successful.
Two other school districts, including Red Jacket and Romulus, have already begun efforts to change names.
In Canandaigua, the district has a three step process in place to get the ball rolling on changing its name.
A series of surveys will go to school staff, students, families, and community members. The Board of Education will ultimately pass a resolution changing the nickname and symbol by the end of the next school year, and a stakeholder committee will come together to review guidance from the state and surveying.
That will determine the final course of action for them.
Some districts are taking quicker action on the matter. However, most are concerned about the lack of funding outlined by state leaders who are mandating the changes.
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