Melrose Red Raiders Name Change Not Necessarily Done Deal, School Committee Says

MELROSE, MA — Members of the School Committee sought to make clear Tuesday night the Red Raider nickname is not necessarily on the outs even though the administration is actively seeking a replacement.

The School Committee indicated the process is still ongoing and no final decisions have been made, perhaps in response to some community feedback revealing a perception that change was certain.

"The School Committee does have the final say on this," member Liz DeSelm said. "In as much as a new mascot might be identified, the choice may in fact be to maintain what is currently there."

While a new nickname, mascot and/or logo still might be likely, the School Committee appeared to want to ease fears after some residents felt blindsided by changes they had little say in this year.

"This is both an appropriate process for [High School Principal Jason Merrill] to be leading within the Melrose Public Schools and the Melrose High School specifically, and it is appropriate in my view and necessary that the School Committee would have the final vote on the recommendation, which as Ms. DeSelm points out, could be a decision not to move forward with the recommendation," School Committee Chair Jen McAndrew said.

Some of the public has expressed hope for more opportunity to discuss Merrill's desire to move on from the Red Raider, a longtime moniker with connections to Native Americans many consider offensive and others view as an honorable tradition-laden title.

The district, which put together a Mascot Steering Committee that has been meeting to talk about replacements since September, is in the middle of pushing ahead. Despite a summer letter from Merrill and a school and community survey, there has been a sentiment the process has not been overly accessible to the public.

The committee's timeline affords one more possibility for the public to weigh in, but only after final options are chosen in January. The recommendation would then go to the School Committee for a vote.

But the School Committee has been hearing concerns of things moving too fast without much opportunity for feedback. In an executive summary of the School Committee's self-evaluation in Tuesday night's materials, members "expressed an area of improvement were to work with the Superintendent around the timing of undertaking topics of interest to ensure the community is both well informed and has better understanding of issues facing the district."

Member Jen Razi-Thomas asked Merrill Tuesday how he came to the decision over the summer to move on from the Red Raider.

"I'm tasked with a lot of responsibilities and decisions to make and this was one of them," he replied, adding that the schools have been moving in the right direction and he has heard from people concerned about the Red Raider imagery.

Razi-Thomas also asked if it was possible to reopen the surveys, which Merrill said were only meant to solicit name suggestions.

"If that's what I'm asked to do, I'll do that," he said, though no one asked him to.

The public will have more opportunity to be heard.

Ward Hamilton, one of the people behind the Melrose Transparency Initiative that first noted the decision was not Merill's but rather belonged to the School Committee, submitted a petition that would require the School Committee to hold a public hearing on the matter.

The Melrose Transparency Initiative will also host a Jan. 1 2 forum in the middle school auditorium to "educate the wider community on the history of Melrose’s logo and moniker and elevate the discussion surrounding their use over time." The group said Merrill will participate.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook