Indian Mascot One Target Of 'Equity' Change At Manchester HS

MANCHESTER, CT — Changing the decades-old Manchester High School "Indians" nickname is part of a broader effort to change the "culture and climate" in the local school system, a study commissioned by administrators says.

Any change in policy would be subject to Board of Education approval, but the study and subsequent report by the Hartford-based RE-Center in conjunction with the Manchester school system recommended that Manchester High change its nickname through a process involving the school community.

The study, called an Equity-Informed School Climate Assessment, "aims to replace or enhance traditional school climate surveys with a robust assessment of school systems through an equity lens."

E.I.S.C.A., "focuses on the confluence between school culture and climate, racial equity, and student achievement. By focusing on the experiences and solutions offered by students and staff who hold marginalized identities, all students are served well," according to its webpage.

RE·Center developed the first district-wide E.I.S.C.A. in collaboration with Manchester Public Schools with support from EdChange and funding from the Willian Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund.

The E.I.S.C.A. process includes:

• Assessing the experiences of students, families, and staff through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic site visits
• Reviewing district and school policies and practices
• Lifting up solutions to address inequities identified by those most impacted
• Providing support to implement strategies for sustaining more equitable school environments

Manchester schools Communications Director Jim Farrell said high school students are slated to report on the mascot issue at the June 10 school board meeting.

It is one of more than 50 recommendations regarding equity and "inclusion issues" in the report, he said. The school system has positioned itself to take them into consideration after community input and make them a "priority," he said.

Students from the MHS Student Activist Group have petitioned to support a nickname change. RE-Center Executive Director Kate Gervais on Wednesday agreed the sports logo was one of the highest profile items, but was insistent that there is a broader picture involved.

"When we look at the big picture, its everything in the schools," she said. "The nickname is just one example. It's how a school feels on all fronts. It's equity in schools. Saying that, it makes no sense to keep that name."

The logo featuring a block-letter M inside a circle adorned with feathers has evolved into mostly block lettering logos at MHS. But an Indian head logo is clearly visible on the side of the school.