By Rich Larson, News Director
The Northfield School Board resumed the conversation surrounding the Northfield High School Raiders mascot.
The drawing that currently represents the Northfield Raiders has come under
question, and more than a bit of fire in recent years, with many people questioning both its relevancy to the Raiders name and the nature of the image itself.
Northfield Superintendent of schools, Dr. Matt Hillmann said yesterday that the current mascot has been in place for 64 years, and it is probably time for a change.
“The current mascot was selected in 1956. A Northfield High School student created that mascot as part of a contest. And there are a lot of legends about the motivation behind how that original came to be, and we know that many people have really appreciated it over the years. We also know that 64 years later, it’s probably time to look at doing a refresh of that mascot.”
Over the years, students at Northfield High School have taken to calling it the Racist Raider, and last February members of the High School student council formally asked the school board to look at making a change. Hillmann conceded yesterday that the mascot has “cartoonish and accentuated facial features that are concerning.”
“So, there’s two parts to this. It’s time to do a refresh and we also need to make sure that the things that represent the school district are inclusive of the people who we represent in the community.”
Dr. Hillmann has proposed a motion for the next school board meeting on December 14th that would direct the Northfield High School administration to begin a process and take submissions for a new mascot. Those submissions would be welcome from both students and non-student members of the community, and to select from those submissions up to four different options for consideration. The strongest consideration, he said, would be given to conceptual designs that make the most direct connection to the origin of the Raider name, and how the community did defeat the James Younger Gang when they attempted to rob the Northfield First national Bank in 1876. He also said that there would be some parameters surrounding the submissions, foremost among them would be no weaponry associated with the new mascot.
While some may question the timing of this discussion when so many other challenges are facing the school district right now, he said it is important to take up discussions like this one because “there is still work to be done, and we need to keep moving forward.”
Hillmann said there are already plans to memorialize the current mascot, should the school decide to make a change.
Construction projects nearing conclusion
The Superintendent also said that a flurry of construction and re-modeling projects in the public school facilities is approaching conclusion.
The new Greenvale Park school building is basically complete, he said. There are just a few details to work out.
“There are still some punch list items. Anybody who has ever moved into a new house, or you’ve built something, over the first year that you’re there you see things [that make you say] ‘Oh, we should adjust that’ or ‘That didn’t turn out exactly the way we expected.’ And that’s something we planned, and so we continue to work through that punch list as things arise with our friends from Knutson Construction.”
Those interested in seeing what the new school looks like can take a virtual walkthrough tour of school by visiting the construction page on the school’s website, or by clicking HERE.
Hillmann also said the school offices at the Longfellow school should be complete in 4-6 weeks.
To hear Superintendent Hillmann’s full conversation with Jeff Johnson, click HERE.
Dundas City Council approves sale of old City Hall
And the Dundas City Council Monday night approved the sale of the old Dundas City Hall.
Dundas City administrator Jenelle Teppen said yesterday that the council members went into closed session after the public meeting on Monday and approved the sale of the building to Northfield attorney Dan Irwin for $70,000. Teppen said Irwin intends to move his law office into the building.
Dundas opened a brand new City Hall in September.
