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The final four Community vote to help finalize new Liberty Central mascot

by Derek Kirk
Posted 5/12/23

LIBERTY –   In order for the new mascot to be unveiled before the start of the next school year, the Liberty Central School District Mascot Committee met in April, and narrowed down the …

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The final four Community vote to help finalize new Liberty Central mascot

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LIBERTY –  In order for the new mascot to be unveiled before the start of the next school year, the Liberty Central School District Mascot Committee met in April, and narrowed down the decision to these final four options: the Lions, the Phoenix, the Redhawks, or the Wolves. 

These final four choices for the Liberty Central School District’s new mascot are up for a vote, and whichever comes out on top will replace the old mascot, the Liberty Indians. In a statement put out by the school district, it noted that these four iconic symbols represent themes of strength, family, intelligence and perseverance - as well as “Liberty’s Pride.”

The voting will be available to Liberty students starting the week of May 15. For the rest of the community, they will be able to cast their ballot at the district office located at 115 Buckley Street, Liberty, from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 22. The results will assist the committee in making their final decision on the new face of the school, which is expected to reconvene once more at the end of May.

According to the school, a resolution committing the district to ending the use of the indigenous mascot, logos and imagery is expected to be introduced during the Liberty Board of Education meeting on June 13, as required by the New York State Education Department, which has since barred schools from using the likeness of Native American imagery in this way.

Liberty is just one of a number of schools in the state and the nation who used indigenous symbols as their school mascots. These educational institutions have until June 2025 to finalize the changes to become compliant.

The end results for Liberty’s voting are expected to be made public during the summer – giving the district’s students and families a new symbol and mascot to greet them beginning the 2023-2024 school year.

The costs for the anticipated changes are already budgeted for next school year, and are being allotted $500,000 from the district. 

“We want to be sure to be cognizant of the State’s Department of Education’s requirements and be understanding that our community had two different perspectives on this matter. Some members embrace the change, others are disheartened; but ultimately people understand why the district is moving in this direction,” Liberty Central School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. 

“However members of the community may feel we want to make it a point that it is important for us to get as much input from our students and community as a whole to finalize what our next mascot will be,” Sullivan said.

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