There comes a time when it is important to do the right thing. On March 22, I attended the Kelseyville School Board meeting where they were faced with a difficult decision that was very emotional for many people. After two hours of public input regarding school mascots, both in support and against a change, the board members voted unanimously to change the mascot for the upcoming school year.
Approximately 160 community members including students, parents, teachers and representatives of several tribes around the lake attended the meeting. Although I had issues with the way the meeting began with Clayton Duncan orchestrating a presentation and then running around the room with a camera, I must give credit to the participants and school board. Almost all participants presented their views in a considerate and noncombative manner. I was proud of my community to be a part of such a productive, informative and intelligent discussion.
However, I was dismayed at the subsequent article appearing in the Record-Bee the following day. The article misrepresented the meeting. It painted it as if a big fight occurred and the Native Americans won, clearly a media event for Clayton Duncan. In reality, many who attended with the opinion that there was nothing wrong with honoring Indians as a mascot and supporting tradition listened with an open mind, discovered that it was demeaning to our own Kelseyville Native American students and those at schools we visit.
Now, I am amazed at the rumors of a recall over the method in which the meeting was advertised and the process for electing a new mascot. For many years the district has seen its share of unrest and difficulties. I served as a school board member from 1989 through 1992 during a few of those very turbulent years. My children are proud graduates of the Kelseyville Unified School District and were also proud of their Indian mascot. We no longer have our teachers threatening strikes, we no longer see anger over unresponsive or incompetent administration, and the district is financially sound. Do we really want to recall a school board that is working well together, with the community, with administration and staff over a mascot?
I must ask my fellow community members to take a step back and put this issue in perspective. Do we really want to cost the school district approximately $30,000 for a special election to recall the current board members? Particularly when the district and school board are addressing main education issues in an open, productive and progressive manner?
The meeting deciding the mascot issue was well attended and no secret to those that are paying attention. Everyone was permitted to speak and many students, parents, community members and Native Americans did so. Several of those speaking out for a recall also attended the meeting and chose not to speak.
To keep revisiting the issue until a desired outcome is achieved is a drain on everyone. The students accepted the change and are now caught up in the excitement of choosing a new mascot. Let”s remember the mascot is for the students. We cannot let the emotions of a few damage the operations of the district. It is time for the quiet majority to address the vocal minority.
Wouldn”t it be nice if these individuals could focus their energies towards important issues such as improving student facilities, student attendance, effective education and test scores? Where are they when these issues are being discussed the fourth Wednesday of each month?
Frank Ignacio
Kelseyville
Editor”s note: The Record-Bee stands by the story about the meeting (“Indians no more,” March 23). There was no attempt to make it appear as if a fight had occurred; indeed, the word “fight” didn”t even appear in the article, nor was there any attempt to paint the event as being contentious or divisive.
