TURNERS FALLS — Members of a group calling for a change in the Turners Falls High School mascot held a press conference on Monday afternoon announcing their opposition to the nonbinding referendum approved by the Montague Selectboard last week.
About 15 people gathered to share the statement. Ferd Wulkan, Edite Cunha and Elyssa Serrilli read the statement.
“We call on the voters of Montague to join us in supporting the Gill-Montague Regional School Committee, as they have dedicated much time and energy in their thorough and thoughtful process on this issue,” the statement said. “This work has been done in a planned and announced process by a democratically elected body. We think that body should be allowed to complete its work and render a timely decision.”
David Detmold, a member of the group, said they have been having discussions since the referendum was passed by the Selectboard.
“This is something we’ve all worked on over the last 24 hours,” Detmold said.
Rhonda Anderson, a Colrain resident, said the language of the referendum is attempting to find a compromise by reworking the mascot to be a New England Native American, but she said the Native Americans in this area have already spoken on the issue and do not feel honored by the mascot.
The statement said that the School Committee is charged with the decision, and they also need to make the district a safe place for all students. The group believes that many voices and opinions have already been expressed through the process.
“In fact, people have been heard in petitions, forums and letters,” the statement said. “In petitions alone, 1,800 people have logged comments for the mascot, and 926 in favor of change, that have been submitted to the Gill Montague School Committee. This includes students, teachers, parents, family and friends not living in the district, but whom are stakeholders. A referendum dismisses these voices.”
The group supports the School Committee’s process and plans to attend the meeting Tuesday night where the School Committee could take a vote on the issue. Those who are for keeping the mascot also plan to attend the meeting.