Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker addresses Jamestown School Board (June 6, 2023)

The Jamestown School Board has approved a plan related to changing the high school’s “Red Raider” nickname.

The New York State Department of Education required the district to submit a plan by June for review and approval by the state.

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said the plan is a multi-year process, “I do know that Mr. (Ben) Drake, who is the chair of the (Mascot) Committee, spoke with over the announcements to the high school students today. And there is soon to be, if not already, a survey going out to the staff, to the parents, and to kids around the brainstorming of the name and then the process will follow as detailed in this plan.”

Jamestown Public Schools Proposed Mascot Plan

Whitaker said the Mascot Committee will use public input to narrow down the nickname possibilities and select a new nickname by the end of this calendar year with implementation in the 2024-25 school year.

The board also approved a contract with Armoured One to perform a security vulnerability assessment of all school buildings. The cost of the service is $19,000. Whitaker said the company will begin work this week. Once the assessment is done, a report will be given to the Superintendent, the Safety and Security Committee, as well as the School Board.

The Board recognized outgoing board member Shelly Leathers, who is stepping down after 10 years of service. She was praised for her “no nonsense” work on Finance Committee. The two ex-officio student members, Emylia Hallberg and Aubrey Reynolds, also were recognized for their service to the board.

Coach Propheter, who is a part of the boys football staff at Jamestown in the fall, has taken the reigns of the girls flag team. He discusses their week one victory, getting acclimated to the rule book, and the impact he wants to leave.

JPS Board President Paul Abbott reads statement on Raiders nickname (February 28, 2023)

The Jamestown Public Schools district has been ordered to change the Raiders nickname or risk losing state aid.

School Board President Paul Abbott, reading a prepared statement, said Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker and six other districts in the region had a virtual meeting recently with members of the State Department of Education regarding nicknames or mascots that were questionable or needed to be changed.

He said State Education informed districts that the Raiders nickname could no longer by used, “Districts that do not comply will not receive state aid. They have set a timetable for these changes. So over the next two plus school years we have to replace all school uniforms, paint over all walls, and replace any flooring or turf at the expense of local taxpayers. The state is not funding any of this.”

Abbott reminded board members that the district willingly went through the process, starting in 2014, of removing Native American imagery following a letter received from the Seneca Nation, “It is also worth noting that as we continued through the process and chose a new mascot in 2021, we collaborated and communicated with the Seneca Nation. Let me say this – If this is the final decision on the matter, we will change. Priority one with this Board has always been the students. We won’t do anything that we can clearly see would be bad for students. We won’t lose taxpayer money over a mascot.”

Whitaker said the district’s plan for the process they will follow for a nickname change must be approved by the School Board and submitted to the State by June, “Then, in the next year, meaning 2023-24, we have to change all of the imagery, anything that is relatively inexpensive to change. Then by 2024-25, June of 2025, we have to change everything. So, that would be turf, very expensive stuff, turf, uniforms, things like that.”

Whitaker said the district does plan to reconvene the Jamestown High School Mascot Committee to work on selecting a new nickname.

School Districts across the state received notice in November 2022 from the State Department of Education that the use of Native American imagery for mascots for schools was being effectively banned, and that additional requirements would be forthcoming. That came after another school district lost its appeal in State Supreme Court to keep its Native American mascot and nickname.

Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education President Paul Abbott statement on the order by the New York State Department of Education that “Raiders” nickname must be changed.

Coach Ken Ricker discusses his 10-5 (5-3) Red Raiders girls team. Including: their adversity faced with numbers, potential playoff picture, and how proud he is of his team day in and day out.

WRFA’s Collin Wood takes a look at High School Sports, with recaps and previews for the 2022 High School Football Season in Chautauqua County – along with interviews featuring local coaches and also a report on the Buffalo Bills.