Could 'Redskins' be banished once and for all?

A possible move to replace Colusa High School's Redskins sports mascot could start as early as next month.

Board members for the Colusa Unified School District on Tuesday announced plans on how they'd take the mascot's future to the public if the board decides to drop Redskins, one of a collection of tribe-themed high school and college monikers criticized by Native American activists as caricaturing tribal cultures.

"It's almost the same as a public vote," said Larry Yeghoian, the district's superintendent.

A 22-member committee of high schoolers, faculty, city residents and the three school principals drew up a proposal for the change, in a report the school board is expected to formally accept March 18.

The report suggests that students, residents and school staffs each nominate three new mascot choices. Committee members would pick three finalists from the nine selections, giving votes to students in grades 7-12 and all households in the school district. The top vote-getter among the choices would go to board members for their approval.

Though the report calls for excluding names that are "a variation on the Redskins/Indian theme," board member Donna Krause predicted strong pressure from some citizens to hold onto a mascot that has represented Colusa High for more than 80 years.

"That may or may not be the case," she said Wednesday about shutting out tribal-themed symbols. "It's not a done deal at this time."

New uniforms and school signs for a revised mascot would cost the district about $60,000, according to Yeghoian.

Colusa High was one of five California schools targeted by the state Assembly over the Redskins nickname. Lawmakers unsuccessfully tried three times between 2002 and 2005 to pass bills forcing mascot changes in those schools; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the last two attempts, saying school officials should keep the right to choose their own symbols.

Krause, who spoke out in favor of dropping the Redskins name when the school district floated the idea in September, did so again Tuesday. Yet she conceded the change would be wrenching for townspeople who have watched or played for Colusa High sports squads over the past decades.

"We can't whitewash those signs; it's history," she said. "They have a lot of meaning for a lot of people. It really was well-intended by those who played using that name. They saw it as a proud banner to play under."

Clarification: This story has been changed from what appeared in print to reflect that the process outlined would only be used in the event the school board decides to drop Redskins as the current nickname. The board has not made that decision yet.

Contact reporter Howard Yune at 458-2121 or 749-4708 or hyune@appealdemocrat.com.