We, the undersigned residents, families, alumni, and community members of Mendon and Upton, respectfully request that the Mendon‑Upton Regional School Committee reopen and broaden the community input process for selecting the district’s future mascot and branding, and provide full transparency on the process from start to finish.

Many town residents became aware of the mascot change only after the initial recommendation window had effectively closed, largely because information was shared primarily through school newsletters and limited channels. For a decision that represents the entire Mendon‑Upton community and will shape district identity for years to come, the process must be open, visible, and accessible to both towns.

We are asking for the following actions:

1. Reopen or extend the mascot recommendation and feedback window with clear dates and multiple opportunities to participate.
2. Expand outreach beyond school newsletters by using multiple town-wide channels, including:
   1. Town websites and town email lists (where available)
   2. Public postings and community forums
   3. A public notice/announcement in local newspapers serving Mendon and Upton
3. Publish a complete, easy to find timeline showing:
   1. When recommendations open/close
   2. When semifinalists/finalists are selected
   3. When the community can comment/vote
   4. When the final decision is expected
4. Disclose who is on the mascot selection/branding committee (or screening group) including names/roles (student/staff/coach/admin/community), and how members were chosen.
5. Publish the full decision process end-to-end, including:
   1. The criteria used to screen and narrow recommendations
   2. How community input is weighted/used
   3. Who makes the final recommendation and who makes the final decision
   4. Where meeting notes/minutes and updates will be posted
6. Hold at least one public meeting specifically on this topic that is available online (live-streamed/recorded), with a clear opportunity for residents to participate by speaking and/or asking questions (including a remote option for those who cannot attend in person)

This request is not about conflict; it is about transparency, broad participation, and community trust. A reopened and widely communicated process will result in a mascot decision that is better supported, more legitimate, and more unifying for Mendon and Upton.

We respectfully ask the School Committee to place this matter on a public meeting agenda and provide a written response outlining next steps and how the community can participate.

Who can sign this petition:
Residents of Mendon & Upton, parents/guardians, alumni, students, staff, and community supporters.

Please also send the following email to the MURSD School Committee

Copy/Paste the below and email to School Committee 

EMAIL: schoolcommittee@mursd.org

Subject: Request to Reopen Mascot Input + Publish Full Timeline, Committee Members, and Process

Hello School Committee Members,

I’m writing as a Mendon/Upton resident to request that the district reopen or extend the mascot recommendation/feedback period and expand outreach beyond school newsletters so the entire community has meaningful awareness and an opportunity to participate. Many residents only learned of this after the initial window had effectively closed. Please also publish the full timeline (open/close dates, semifinalist/finalist selection dates, community feedback/vote dates, and expected decision date), disclose who is on the mascot selection/screening group and how they were chosen, and share the end-to-end process (criteria used, how public input is weighed, and who makes the final decision). Outreach should include town-wide channels and a notice in local newspapers serving Mendon and Upton. Please place this topic on an upcoming agenda and provide a written update on next steps.

Thank you.