MADISON (WSAU) The state has ordered the Osseo-Fairchild School District to drop its Indian nickname and logo. The Chieftains are the first casualties of a state law approved in May which gives offended residents a process to complain about their schools’ Indian monikers.
The Department of Public Instruction held a public hearing, as the law required. And it ruled yesterday that the Chieftain was a race-based name which promotes discrimination and harassment. Fifteen residents of the Osseo-Fairchild district filed the complaint on the first day the law took effect.
The Mukwonago and Kewaunee school districts have similar actions pending. Over 30 other Wisconsin districts could also be targeted under the new law.
Osseo now has a year to replace the Chieftain name and logo – or else they could be fined $1000 a day. The district can appeal, and Superintendent Edward Dombrowski says he’ll let the School Board decide on that. But he hopes the ruling will help bring the community together, after the issue caused a split.
