ATCHISON, Kan. (WIBW) – Public schools in Atchison will present “Phoenix” as a new mascot after the action of the education committee on Monday evening.
According to KAIR Radio, the Atchison Unified School District 409 Board of Education members voted 5 to 1 for the change, which had been in the works for several months.
“Phoenix” will replace the previous mascots Redmen for Atchison High School and Braves for Atchison Middle School. The USD 409 Board of Education unanimously voted in April to replace the previous two mascots, invoking Native American insensitivity, KAIR said.
According to KAIR, “Phoenix” has topped the polls for new mascots in recent community polls.
The vote on Monday evening came despite a last-minute attempt to stop naming the new mascot, an attempt that, according to KAIR, included a petition with 700 signatures.
John Eplee was the only board member who did not vote for the new mascot name. KAIR said Eplee abstained after comments were made showing a desire to slow the process down.
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