Caledonia schools are changing the name of their sports teams from the Confederates.
The Lowndes County School District Board unanimously voted Friday to work with students, faculty and alumni in an effort to change the name of its athletic teams, which have been called the Confederates since the 1950s. Under the motion passed, the new name will be announced to the public within 60 days.
This decision comes on the heels of the state of Mississippi deciding to remove a state flag bearing a Confederate battle emblem in late June.
“I know Mr. Sam (Allison) has done a survey of the community, and the survey pretty much came back 50-50,” LCSD board member Brian Clark said. “I know some in the community view it as an offensive issue. I think the board needs to take a leadership issue and look at both sides of it. What I did, is I went to the Bible.”
Clark referenced a Bible verse, Romans 14: “Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer. Rather decide to never put a stumbling block or a hindrance in the way of a brother.”
The discussion before the vote was brief, with only Clark deciding to comment from the board table. While Clark voted in favor of the change, he acknowledged the topic was a sensitive issue to many community members.
“It was very tough because when we do a survey and it comes back half and half. It tells me the community has had this mascot a long time and they’ve identified with it,” Clark told The Dispatch after the meeting. “The other half tells me we’re ready for change. So we’re on the cusp. I really struggle with whatever decision I make, I’m upsetting half of the population and half of the community. But when I went to the Bible it really made my decision a lot easier.”
Perhaps no Caledonia resident was more passionate about changing the name than Amanda Nielson, the founder of a movement titled “Unify Caledonia.”
Nielson, a self-described conservative who has lived in Caledonia for 2 1/2 years, said she started the movement because listening to certain voices in her community made her realize the nickname has negatively impacted some residents for decades. More than a month ago, Nielson started an online petition in hopes of bringing awareness to the issue. As of Friday, the petition bore nearly 800 signatures.
“I’ve talked to people who were intimidated by the name,” said Nielson, who has two children in the school district. “That’s not appropriate for a school mascot.”
Shortly after the motion passed, Nielsen, donning a red face covering with the words “Unify Caledonia,” began a PowerPoint presentation advocating for the name to change. She cut it short after it was pointed out the decision had already been made.
“I did get tipped ahead of time they were going to do this,” she said of the mascot change. “But I still wanted to make sure they were held accountable and that this was not done in silence.”
Clark said if the board simply “just kicked the can down the road,” the topic would have just come up again in the near future.
“I do not believe that the community of Steens and Caledonia is racist in any way,” Clark said. “But people outside of our area looking in see our mascot and may view us that way. I think it’s time to change that. I didn’t know necessarily if it was a board area to change it, but the board really needed to take a leadership position on this and get the ball movement moving forward.”
District Superintendent Sam Allison commended the board for its decision.
“We’ve got a really good board and they’re there to make tough decisions,” Allison said. “I just commend them today for making a tough decision but doing what’s best for kids. That’s what we need to do.”
Caledonia football coach Michael Kelly said he hadn’t heard any feedback, negative or positive, from players the last two years about the school’s team name, but he supports the decision.
“I feel like it was time for a change,” Kelly told The Dispatch. “I’m just proud of our school board to go ahead and make the change before school starts.”
The decision touched recent Caledonia High School graduate Naterika Shellman, who said she didn’t see this coming.
“I was surprised the board made this decision. But I’m glad they’re taking a step in the right direction,” said Shellman, who has lived in Caledonia for the last 10 years.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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