CHRIS MORELLI cmorelli@lockhaven.com
BELLEFONTE In the Bellefonte area, there’s the school board race and then there’s everything else.
For Bellefonte Area School Board, six cross-filed candidates are vying for four nominations on each ballot: Jon Guizar, Rodney Musser, Jordan Emely, Jack Bechdel II, Jeffrey Steiner and Andrea Royer.
Bechdel, Guizar, Royer and Steiner are running on the well-advertised Win4Bellefonte campaign. According to its website, www.win4bellefonte.com, is a “bipartisan community organization supporting candidates that will encourage excellence, pride and tradition for the Bellefonte Area School District.” Guizar is the current BASD school board president. Steiner is the board’s former vice president.
BELLEFONTE Beginning in 2021-22, Bellefonte Area School District will be known just as the Raiders. After months of debate that has divided a community, the school board voted 6-3 to drop the word “Red” from its official nickname during a special meeting on Wednesday.
In order to move toward a logo that will not misrepresent or stereotype Native Americans, the board also moved to create a committee that will seek public input on a new graphical representation of the nickname “Raiders” that is not centered on any one group’s race, ethnicity or national origin.
The committee will be comprised of representatives from the student body, community, teachers and administrators. The board asked that the committee submit its top three recommendations to the board by the first directors meeting in November.
CHRIS MORELLI cmorelli@lockhaven.com
The Red Raider âRockâ at Bellefonte Area High School has always been a popular location for both current and future students to get their photos taken. The rock will need to be removed as the district begins to phase out all Native American imagery.
PHOTO PROVIDED
BELLEFONTE Say farewell to the Bellefonte Red Raiders. They are Red no more.
At Wednesday night’s special meeting, the Bellefonte Area School District board voted 6-3 to drop the word “Red” and retain the word “Raiders” as its future nickname or moniker, beginning with the 2021-22 school year.
(Editor’s note: Bellefonte’s special school board meeting Wednesday night about the Red Raider nickname did not end in time for The Express’ print deadlin
Bellfonte Mascot Update 6:24 pm
The Bellefonte Area School District will make a decision to either keep or remove the school’s Red Raider’s nickname.
A few weeks ago the school voted 8 to 1 to remove the school’s longtime Native American mascot imagery.
Over the past year the topic has sparked many debates and rallys by alum, students, and Bellefonte residents, both to keep the mascot, and to remove it.
Those who want to keep the Red Raider nickname say it is a way to honor the culture.
While others say it is racist.
The meeting started Tonight at 6pm.