LOCAL
Anna Colletto, The Oklahoma Eagle
Tulsa’s education board will discuss discriminatory mascots, a cell phone ban and define tardiness. Photo: Tim Landes/The Oklahoma Eagle
New and updated policies on “discriminatory” school branding, cell phones in schools and tardies will be up for debate Monday at the Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education meeting.
A newly proposed policy would prohibit any school mascot names or branding that “may reasonably be perceived as offensive, culturally insensitive, or perpetuating stereotypes.” That includes any mascot, symbol or logo that evokes stereotypes based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion.
The policy would also strictly ban the use of “human representations” as mascots in future naming or branding efforts at TPS schools, calling them “unnecessary and harmful.” However, preexisting mascots will not be impacted.
TPS’ Central and Webster campuses would be immediately affected if the policy passes. While the Central “Braves” and the Webster “Warriors” could keep their names, their logos and mascots would have to change.
Central Middle and High schools use arrowhead images in their logos. Webster Middle and High schools use an Indigenous man’s face in logos and the football team enters the field through an inflatable tipi.
The board will only discuss the proposal Monday, but could vote on it as early as Sept. 8.
Two other consequential items are set for a vote Monday.
One updates the district’s preexisting policy on technology, revising guidelines for student use of cell phones and other devices to align with the state’s new “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban for all public schools. If approved, any personal electronic device, like a cell phone or smart watch, will be banned from the first bell to dismissal.
Another item up for a vote would formally define tardiness and truancy within the district.
The board will also hear an update on the district’s goal to increase the percentage of high schoolers “on track” for a College and Career Readiness diploma to 49% by May 2027. That number was 39% in May 2022.
You can attend the 5:30 p.m. meeting Monday in the Cheryl Selman Room at the Charles C. Mason Education Service Center, 3027 S. New Haven Ave.
To speak at the meeting, you must complete a paper form by 5:25 p.m. the day of the meeting or an electronic form by noon.
Anna Colletto is the education reporter for the Tulsa Local News Initiative. You can reach her at anna.colletto@localnewsfortulsa.org.
