TURNERS FALLS — The Gill-Montague Regional School Committee has set the dates for the two forums about the Turners Falls mascot.
The forums will be on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday Nov. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. Both meetings will be in the Turners Falls High School Theater.
District superintendent Michael Sullivan said the forums will be open to the public but the School Committee has not yet determined the format for the forums.
The forums come after the School Committee passed a proposal on Tuesday to review the high school’s mascot, currently the Indians.
The meeting included a public comment period, during which committee Chairman Mike Langknecht asked comments to be kept to the process, not to the argument about whether the mascot should be kept or changed.
Since the proposal has passed, the forums will allow for public comments about the issue itself, whether or not the school should keep or change the mascot.
Jeremy Dillensneider, who started the petition to keep the mascot, said there was a lot of passion coming from both sides of the debate, and he hopes interruptions are limited during the forums.
“After witnessing what I witnessed the other night at the School Committee meeting, I certainly hope it’s a little more orderly.”
Dillensneider said he has reached out to some who are on the other side of the issue and wants to talk things out, potentially in a smaller setting.
“I think a small committee of people from either side of the isle would absolutely be productive,” he said.
Miranda Davis covers Montague, Gill and Erving.
You can reach her at 413-772-0261 ext. 280
or: mdavis@recorder.com