MADISON - The Wisconsin state Senate has approved a bill that could subject school districts that don't drop American Indian logos and team names to thousands of dollars in fines.
The measure, passed Tuesday 17-16, allows any school district resident to file a complaint with the state superintendent alleging the use is discriminatory.
If the superintendent agrees, the district could be ordered to stop using the mascot or face fines up to $1,000 a day.
The Black Hawk school district, known as the Warriors, is one of 36 across the state that could be impacted under the new legislation.
Superintendent Charles McNulty has said the district is prepared to follow the law if anyone complains the Warriors moniker is offensive.
"If there is a complaint in regard to the logo, we'll work with any community member - we're open to talk to anyone," he said in February when asked about the bill.
Schools could keep the mascots if they can prove the name refers to a specific tribe and it gave permission for the name to be used.
The Assembly passed a similar version of the bill in February. Both houses must pass an identical measure before it can go to Gov. Jim Doyle.
Challenges to the use of tribal names and references to American Indians has been happening since the mid-90s, and in Wisconsin more than 40 schools have changed their Indian identities, out of the possible 80 to 90, according to Mike Mikalsen, a research assistant for Rep. Stephen Nass, (R-Whitewater) who has been an opponent of the bill.
The measure, passed Tuesday 17-16, allows any school district resident to file a complaint with the state superintendent alleging the use is discriminatory.
If the superintendent agrees, the district could be ordered to stop using the mascot or face fines up to $1,000 a day.
The Black Hawk school district, known as the Warriors, is one of 36 across the state that could be impacted under the new legislation.
Superintendent Charles McNulty has said the district is prepared to follow the law if anyone complains the Warriors moniker is offensive.
"If there is a complaint in regard to the logo, we'll work with any community member - we're open to talk to anyone," he said in February when asked about the bill.
Schools could keep the mascots if they can prove the name refers to a specific tribe and it gave permission for the name to be used.
The Assembly passed a similar version of the bill in February. Both houses must pass an identical measure before it can go to Gov. Jim Doyle.
Challenges to the use of tribal names and references to American Indians has been happening since the mid-90s, and in Wisconsin more than 40 schools have changed their Indian identities, out of the possible 80 to 90, according to Mike Mikalsen, a research assistant for Rep. Stephen Nass, (R-Whitewater) who has been an opponent of the bill.