BUCYRUS — With an ongoing national conversation on the names of mascots for professional and amateur sports teams, Bucyrus City Schools, home of the Redmen, has now become a part of the conversation.
Comments on social media platforms shared a belief that the Native American statue and totem pole had been removed from the Bucyrus Secondary School commons in response to the national public outcry.
Bucyrus City Schools Superintendent Matt Chrispin said the rumors of the removal of those objects are untrue.
“Nothing with Native American imagery has been removed from either of the buildings,” he said.
Chrispin said school administrators did receive an email from the National Congress of American Indians.
“It was more of an FYI-style email than a request of any kind,” he said.
He said the message included information of movements and activity regarding Native American-based names across the country at the professional, college and high school levels.
While the photo of a Native American has been used at BCS, specifically associated with athletics such as on the pads in Alex Kish Gymnasium and painted on the wall, the district’s website sports a “B” inside a circle with a pair of feathers. The athletic department also has used a “B” with a spear through the letter.
Chrispin said he suspects the topic to be discussed at the next Bucyrus City Schools Board of Education meeting July 16 at 5:30 p.m.
He said he believes the board wants to be proactive and sensitive to the issues happening throughout society and open to starting the conversation of what the best course of action, if any, is.
The link to the virtual board meeting will be on the board of education page on the Bucyrus City Schools website.