Please sign this petition showing your objection to House Bill 1237, that would force our Pontiac Indians to change its Mascott.

This was the email sent out by Superintendent Jon Kilgore -

April 14, 2025

Subject: Update on Illinois House Bill 1237 Prohibiting Native American Mascots

Dear PTHS School Community,

In the event you have not seen recent news articles about it, the Illinois House PASSED House Bill 1237: Amending the School Code to prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot; defines "native name, logo, or mascot".

Therefore, we are just an Illinois Senate vote away from having a law whereby “Pontiac Indians” and related images (see House Bill 1237) would be banned barring an unlikely veto from the Governor. As you may be aware, this bill would have significant implications for our school district and approximately 90 others across the state. The Illinois House vote was an outcome mainly along party lines so the Senate may likely follow suit making the ban very possible to move toward approval. 

What can you do?

Contact your local Illinois Senator(s) and express your position to Illinois House Bill 1237. Your voice and advocacy are critical in this matter and it is important that our elected representatives hear from us, their constituents, about the potential impact of this legislation.

Our State Senator:

Chris Balkema (Offices in Pontiac and El Paso (Call: 815-844-9179), or Dwight (815-432-0106)

Email: cbalkema@icloud.com

How our local House of Representatives Voted:

Dennis Tipsword (Offices in Pontiac) – NO to the ban

Jason Bunting (Offices in Watseka and Dwight) – NO to the ban

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. 

Respectfully,

Jon Kilgore, Superintendent

*Edit - this is the email I sent along with this petition to a few local senators and representatives. 

Our community recently learned that House Bill 1237 was passed, which would directly affect our beloved school mascot. Pontiac High School in Pontiac, IL was established in 1901, and generations of families have been proud to call themselves Indians ever since. 

We created this petition, which is pretty quickly gaining momentum, to band together in hopes that we will have your support in opposing this legislation.
 Keep checking back as word spreads and new signatures are being added by the minute!
Please don’t break up our tribe!

Sincerely, 
The people proud to be Pontiac Indians, Warriors, and Chiefs..