Three Michigan school board members lose recall battles over retired mascot
SANDUSKY, Mich. (AP) — Three Michigan school board members have been recalled, victims of a controversial decision to retire a school mascot.
Jason Trepowski, Daniel Gerstenberger and Jane Jacobsen of the Sandusky Community Schools in eastern Michigan’s Thumb region all lost their recall battles in the general election Tuesday, according to results posted on Sanilac County’s website.
The recall measures arose after the board members voted to retire the school district’s Redskins mascot in November 2022 and change it to Wolves. The Redskins had been the high school’s mascot since 1940.
The Sandusky Community Schools Board of Education voted to retire the Redskin mascot last year after discussing the switch as a way to recognize changed perceptions towards Native American mascot imagery.
The National Congress of American Indians reported in January.
Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday for all three board members at their homes, place of business or via Facebook.