MADISON - The state Assembly's Education Committee on Tuesday approved a bill that could require school districts that use Indian names to change their names, nicknames, mascots and logos if someone within the district complains.
The vote passed 8-5, with all Democrats on the committee in support of the bill and all Republicans in opposition.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, told the committee that any changes made to local school districts' name should be done at the local level rather than by the state.
"There is no need to give one individual in Madison the power to take away the name of the school," he said.
Davis said any complaints should be handled within the district through community forums. There have been 32 districts that have changed their school nickname, mascot or logo since 1991, he said, proving that changes can be made locally.
"A solution can be found without the involvement of the superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction," he said.
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, is a committee member and a co-sponsor of the bill. He said he viewed the issue as a way to protect the rights of minorities.
"Indian tribes have the opinion that the names don't honor them," he said.
Hilgenberg said that when he was elected, he promised to consider his votes for bills based on his conscience, his constituents and his party, in that order.
"I voted for this bill based on my conscience," he said.
The bill passed by the committee gives districts a one- to three-year waiver to change their names if the costs are considered unreasonable by the Superintendent of Public Schools.
Davis expects the bill to go before the Democrat-controlled Assembly in April.
The bill calls for the state Department of Public Instruction to investigate complaints about race-based names, nicknames, logos or mascots. Complaints about the name would have to be made by a district resident. School boards would have a chance to argue the logos or mascots don't discriminate or amount to harassment or stereotyping.
If the state superintendent finds the complaint has merit, the school board would be ordered to drop the offending moniker or face $100 to $1,000 in fines each day it continues to use the logo.
The bill also has support among Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, who has signed on as co-sponsor. Gov. Jim Doyle also supports the bill.
The vote passed 8-5, with all Democrats on the committee in support of the bill and all Republicans in opposition.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, told the committee that any changes made to local school districts' name should be done at the local level rather than by the state.
"There is no need to give one individual in Madison the power to take away the name of the school," he said.
Davis said any complaints should be handled within the district through community forums. There have been 32 districts that have changed their school nickname, mascot or logo since 1991, he said, proving that changes can be made locally.
"A solution can be found without the involvement of the superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction," he said.
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, is a committee member and a co-sponsor of the bill. He said he viewed the issue as a way to protect the rights of minorities.
"Indian tribes have the opinion that the names don't honor them," he said.
Hilgenberg said that when he was elected, he promised to consider his votes for bills based on his conscience, his constituents and his party, in that order.
"I voted for this bill based on my conscience," he said.
The bill passed by the committee gives districts a one- to three-year waiver to change their names if the costs are considered unreasonable by the Superintendent of Public Schools.
Davis expects the bill to go before the Democrat-controlled Assembly in April.
The bill calls for the state Department of Public Instruction to investigate complaints about race-based names, nicknames, logos or mascots. Complaints about the name would have to be made by a district resident. School boards would have a chance to argue the logos or mascots don't discriminate or amount to harassment or stereotyping.
If the state superintendent finds the complaint has merit, the school board would be ordered to drop the offending moniker or face $100 to $1,000 in fines each day it continues to use the logo.
The bill also has support among Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, who has signed on as co-sponsor. Gov. Jim Doyle also supports the bill.