Post by Okwes on Mar 22, 2007 15:06:51 GMT -5
Ronan mascot controversy re-surfaces
Posted: Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007 - 01:48:09 pm PST
By Nate Traylor
Leader Staff
Human Rights Bureau investigates
RONAN -- The Montana Human Rights Bureau recently completed an investigation into the Ronan School District mascots, the Chiefs and the Maidens, and have found probable cause that the Native American-themed mascots are discriminatory.
"We found that there was probable cause that discrimination has occurred," said Bureau Chief Katherine Kountz.
The issue stems from a suit filed against the school district nearly four years ago on behalf of the Indian Education Committee, who feel the mascots harm the image of Native Americans.
The case is unusual in that it has already been sent to the state supreme court, which passed the case on to the HRB, as that organization is the "exclusive remedy for charges of discrimination," Kountz explained.
Francine Dupuis, IEC chairperson, filed the suit, alleging that the school district discriminated against her in the area of education on the basis of race by using the terms "Chiefs" and "Maidens" as the teams' sports mascots, and by placing those words, and other Native American imagery, on the Ronan Middle School gymnasium, according to the final investigative report, administered by the HRB's Employment Relations Division.
In that report, the school district says Dupuis' claim does not have standing because she is not a student in the Ronan School District.
"I just hope that the school board wakes up, and makes the right decision instead of carrying it out much longer," she said.
Dupuis said after the meeting she will appeal to the school to not only remove the images from the gym floor, but change the mascot names entirely.
At Monday night's school board meeting, it was revealed that both parties are in a conciliation period, in which they have 30 days to come up with a solution. Leading the dialogue between the two parties is a "conciliator" who works on behalf of the HRB. If the parties fail to come up with a resolution within that time period, the issue will sent to the Department of Labor and Industry Hearings Bureau, in which case a judge can award damages.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. Superintendent Andy Holmlund said that he has received notice that the 30 days commenced on Dec. 26 and that he hasn't been contacted by the conciliator yet. As he understands it, the conciliation period is "an opportunity for the charging party to set forth any relief being sought to resolve the case."
While it was discussed at this week's school board meeting, one woman said that she was disappointed that it wasn't more of a prominent issue.
"I thought it should have been placed on the agenda more clearly," said former IEC coordinator Julie Cajune, referring to the fact that the issue was only brought up during the public comment portion of the meeting when Tribal Education Department Head Joyce Silverthorne asked the board about the investigation.
Instead, much of the meeting was centered around the changing of sports schedules and discussion about upcoming Montana High School Association rule changes.
"It was really disappointing to me that the bulk of the meeting centered around sports activities," Cajune said, adding that the mascot issue was just a "casual aside."
"I realize the school doesn't want bad press, but in my mind the best action is to be open direct and forthright, to put the issue clearly on the table and show that they are going to deal with this matter openly," said Cajune, who is now the tribal history project director for Salish Kootenai College.
However, Holmlund maintains that there is nothing in the proceedings set forth by the HRB that stipulates that the issue has to be on a school board agenda.
"We are trying to honor the process and adhere to the rules as are set forth," he said after the meeting.
He said the issue was discussed to some extent, but there was no public comment to carry the discussion any further, something Cajune attributes to the lack of Native American parents present at the meeting.
"I know that people care deeply about the issue," Cajune said, adding that as the IEC coordinator she would have done more to make people aware that the issue was going to be discussed at a public meeting.
Silverthorne said it takes an active concern by all parties involved (parents, school board, and the HRB) to come up with a solution in a timely fashion.
"We've already had three and a half years of this proceeding slowly through the process," she said. "I believe this is a precedent setting case and everyone concerned needs to be cautious how it proceeds."
In other school board news
Activities Coordinator Aaron Griffin presented the board a proposal by the Montana High School Sports Association to move the school's golf program from fall to spring. He said that AA schools are considering it, and asked if they should follow that lead in order to continue participating in meets with AA schools.
This issue was brought up five years ago when the golf program changed from spring to fall to take advantage of golf course availability.
The purchase of a Creative Service Learning Lab for the high school was approved. The high tech lab is a step up from the unit set up at the middle school and will feature video and audio editing equipment, among other features. Also approved for purchase were three new school buses.
Posted: Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007 - 01:48:09 pm PST
By Nate Traylor
Leader Staff
Human Rights Bureau investigates
RONAN -- The Montana Human Rights Bureau recently completed an investigation into the Ronan School District mascots, the Chiefs and the Maidens, and have found probable cause that the Native American-themed mascots are discriminatory.
"We found that there was probable cause that discrimination has occurred," said Bureau Chief Katherine Kountz.
The issue stems from a suit filed against the school district nearly four years ago on behalf of the Indian Education Committee, who feel the mascots harm the image of Native Americans.
The case is unusual in that it has already been sent to the state supreme court, which passed the case on to the HRB, as that organization is the "exclusive remedy for charges of discrimination," Kountz explained.
Francine Dupuis, IEC chairperson, filed the suit, alleging that the school district discriminated against her in the area of education on the basis of race by using the terms "Chiefs" and "Maidens" as the teams' sports mascots, and by placing those words, and other Native American imagery, on the Ronan Middle School gymnasium, according to the final investigative report, administered by the HRB's Employment Relations Division.
In that report, the school district says Dupuis' claim does not have standing because she is not a student in the Ronan School District.
"I just hope that the school board wakes up, and makes the right decision instead of carrying it out much longer," she said.
Dupuis said after the meeting she will appeal to the school to not only remove the images from the gym floor, but change the mascot names entirely.
At Monday night's school board meeting, it was revealed that both parties are in a conciliation period, in which they have 30 days to come up with a solution. Leading the dialogue between the two parties is a "conciliator" who works on behalf of the HRB. If the parties fail to come up with a resolution within that time period, the issue will sent to the Department of Labor and Industry Hearings Bureau, in which case a judge can award damages.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. Superintendent Andy Holmlund said that he has received notice that the 30 days commenced on Dec. 26 and that he hasn't been contacted by the conciliator yet. As he understands it, the conciliation period is "an opportunity for the charging party to set forth any relief being sought to resolve the case."
While it was discussed at this week's school board meeting, one woman said that she was disappointed that it wasn't more of a prominent issue.
"I thought it should have been placed on the agenda more clearly," said former IEC coordinator Julie Cajune, referring to the fact that the issue was only brought up during the public comment portion of the meeting when Tribal Education Department Head Joyce Silverthorne asked the board about the investigation.
Instead, much of the meeting was centered around the changing of sports schedules and discussion about upcoming Montana High School Association rule changes.
"It was really disappointing to me that the bulk of the meeting centered around sports activities," Cajune said, adding that the mascot issue was just a "casual aside."
"I realize the school doesn't want bad press, but in my mind the best action is to be open direct and forthright, to put the issue clearly on the table and show that they are going to deal with this matter openly," said Cajune, who is now the tribal history project director for Salish Kootenai College.
However, Holmlund maintains that there is nothing in the proceedings set forth by the HRB that stipulates that the issue has to be on a school board agenda.
"We are trying to honor the process and adhere to the rules as are set forth," he said after the meeting.
He said the issue was discussed to some extent, but there was no public comment to carry the discussion any further, something Cajune attributes to the lack of Native American parents present at the meeting.
"I know that people care deeply about the issue," Cajune said, adding that as the IEC coordinator she would have done more to make people aware that the issue was going to be discussed at a public meeting.
Silverthorne said it takes an active concern by all parties involved (parents, school board, and the HRB) to come up with a solution in a timely fashion.
"We've already had three and a half years of this proceeding slowly through the process," she said. "I believe this is a precedent setting case and everyone concerned needs to be cautious how it proceeds."
In other school board news
Activities Coordinator Aaron Griffin presented the board a proposal by the Montana High School Sports Association to move the school's golf program from fall to spring. He said that AA schools are considering it, and asked if they should follow that lead in order to continue participating in meets with AA schools.
This issue was brought up five years ago when the golf program changed from spring to fall to take advantage of golf course availability.
The purchase of a Creative Service Learning Lab for the high school was approved. The high tech lab is a step up from the unit set up at the middle school and will feature video and audio editing equipment, among other features. Also approved for purchase were three new school buses.
