We, the undersigned residents, parents, students, alumni, and taxpayers of the Shenendehowa School District, respectfully ask the Shenendehowa Board of Education to pause all current efforts to redesign or replace the district’s mascot, name, or related imagery until meaningful community input is gathered.

Shenendehowa is a name rooted in local history. Adopted in 1950, it comes from Shenondahowe, an Iroquois term meaning “Great Plains,” from which the Plainsmen moniker was derived.  For decades, that name reflected geography and history — not a caricature.

Importantly, the district itself addressed inappropriate imagery long ago.  In 1995, offensive caricatures were phased out.  Since then, Shenendehowa has used a variety of symbols and logos, including student-designed mascots and the district’s script and Carillon imagery.  These changes occurred locally, deliberately, and without state coercion.

In 2024, further changes were made to align with state guidance rather than through a direct, district-wide community decision.

On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education ruled that a New York school district violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by complying with the State-imposed ban on Native American mascots.  That federal finding raises legitimate questions about whether similar decisions across New York were made appropriately and lawfully, including decisions affecting the Shenendehowa School District.

Given this new development, it is reasonable — and responsible — to pause and reassess.

Major decisions affecting school identity, history, and tradition should involve the people most affected by them: students, families, alumni, and taxpayers.

We respectfully ask the Shenendehowa Board of Education to:

1. Place all current mascot and logo redesign efforts on hold; and
2. Conduct a transparent, district-wide canvass of students and taxpayers to determine the community’s preferred path forward

This petition is about local voice, historical context, and thoughtful decision-making.

Let the community decide.

FAQ — Additional Background

What happened in September 2024?
In September 2024, the Shenendehowa Board of Education voted 5–1 to begin moving the district away from the Plainsmen moniker.  The decision followed guidance from the New York State Education Department that the name falls under the State’s ban on Indigenous names, mascots, and imagery.  This action was taken to align the district with the state policy in order to protect funding and compliance.

Was there a logo change earlier?
Yes.  In January 2024, the district removed an Indigenous headdress logo from its branding.  That change occurred months before the later decision on the Plainsmen name and was reported as an effort to address concerns about imagery.

Why did the Board make these changes?
Board members have stated that the decisions were made in response to guidance from the State Education Department and to ensure compliance with state policy.  Officials have emphasized that they value the district’s history and culture and that the changes were procedural and aimed at avoiding potential risk to state aid.

Is this petition asking for a return to offensive imagery?
No.  The district voluntarily phased out offensive caricatures decades ago.  This petition asks only that major decisions about names, symbols, and identity be made with community input and after a transparent, district-wide process.

How is the federal civil rights ruling relevant?
A January 2026 U.S. Department of Education finding determined that a school district in New York violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by complying with the State’s mascot ban.  That federal ruling calls into question the application and enforcement of state policy and suggests a need to re-evaluate how similar decisions have been made elsewhere.