'Indians' Nickname Discussions To Intensify In Farmington

FARMINGTON, CT — Discussions on potentially discarding the Farmington High School "Indians" nickname are expected to intensify as the summer drags on.

That was the promise in a June 29 announcement by the Farmington Board of Education about the "development" of an ad hoc committee to "begin a community engagement process that will address the use of the current Indian mascot and the potential to move toward the selection of a new mascot for FHS."

Committee members will include students, parents and guardians, community members, faculty and staff members, the athletic director, administrators and two school board liaisons.

The work of the committee will likely begin in September with recommendations due to
the board of education for "follow-up and possible action" no later than January, 2021.

School board members said, "The purpose of the FHS Ad Hoc Committee is to engage in a community discussion, with the assistance of experts in the field, on the subjects of race, culture, and the use of Native American school mascots, symbols and names. The committee’s goal will be to advise the Board of Education regarding the impact of utilizing Native American symbols and names as school mascots, and to present a recommendation regarding the possible selection of a new mascot."

FHS Principal Scott Hurwitz will be sending a communications related to the FHS Ad Hoc Committee, according to the announcement.

School board members also said, "Listening respectfully to one another's perspectives as well as experts in the field will be a focus of the FHS Ad Hoc committee's work. It is important that we engage in a community process to ensure the board of education, in collaboration with administration, make informed decisions based on a thorough and transparent community process in which all voices are heard, respected and included. The establishment of the FHS Ad Hoc Committee will be officially voted upon at an upcoming meeting of the board of education."