Clark Intermediate is changing its mascot after 50+ years

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Clark Intermediate is changing its mascot aft much than 50 years.

Students person been known arsenic the Chieftains since the schoolhouse opened, but soon that sanction volition go a happening of the past.

Clovis Unified Chief Communications Officer Kelly Avants says it's changing due to the fact that of the transition of Assembly Bill 3074, known arsenic the California Racial Mascots Act.

"This 1 measure successful peculiar expanded to Indigenous People's mascots. While the measure itself is simply a small spot vague, the examples that were fixed included the Chiefs. We present astatine Clark are the Chieftains," Avants said.

The measure prohibits schools from utilizing immoderate derogatory Native American word arsenic a schoolhouse oregon diversion squad name, mascot oregon nickname.

Schools operated by an Indian people oregon tribal enactment are exempt.

"I deliberation our kids person been arrogant to beryllium known arsenic the Chieftains, but we admit excessively that, and successful talking with indigenous peoples implicit the past astir fractional year, we besides admit that successful the people of competing with others, and however tract of contention and the calls and the chants and things tin go little respectful successful what's done to the school," Avants said.

Schools indispensable region the names by July 1, 2026, truthful Avants says Clovis Unified has been asking for feedback from the community, parents and students.

At the November 12 committee meeting, unit formally made a proposal to alteration the mascot to align with Clovis High.

That means - if approved by the committee - Clark Intermediate students would alteration from Chieftains to Cougars starting adjacent year.

"They support their schoolhouse colors, they support that classical effect that's truthful popular. For our students and community, that was truly good received. That's been thing that consistently was coming retired successful those conversations, truthful that again, they admit that if we person that opportunity, it's a large idea," Avants said.

Administrators accidental the nonstop outgo of the alteration is inactive being determined.

While the authorities doesn't supply backing to enactment the shift, it does springiness schools a two-year grace play to modulation definite items similar uniforms. Avants says they don't program to instrumentality that agelong to marque the changes.

The committee volition marque an authoritative ballot connected the sanction alteration astatine their gathering connected December 12.

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