A bill could change the process of
schools choosing their mascots in Wisconsin, affecting Mukwonago High School
and others, by forcing strict regulations.
A petition of signatures from people of
the school district, above or equal to ten percent of the district student
population, have to be collected 120
days before the complaint is put forward, and a burden of proof must be placed
on the complaint. A hearing must be held by the Department of Administration’s
Division of Hearing Appeals, who makes the decision.
Assembly speaker Robin Vos stated “These
changes are reasonable and address the concerns brought forth by all parties.
It puts the proper mechanism in place for appeals from the community without
putting an undue burden on school districts.”
A mascot that can be seen as
discriminating a particular group can still remain as long as less than ten
percent of the student population do not object to it.
Barbara Munson, one of the people who
backed the law that restricts the race-based mascot’s states,
"This particular law is not
constitutional and in fact is racist. This law is a form of
discrimination."
Some believe that this new legislation,
instead of being a form of discrimination will actually allow an opportunity
for a partnership between the tribes and the school districts.
Sam Hall, a Mukwonago School District
attorney, commended the legislation, stating “This proposal strikes the right
balance in protecting the constitutional rights of local taxpayers and
preserving local control of schools, while also restating that racial
discrimination and harassment have no place in our schools”
The legislation will be considered in
the coming weeks.
