It was a standing room only crowd in the high school's media center during the most recent meeting of Ellenville's School Board. On Tuesday November 28, Mr. Jim Graham and his group of concerned parents had their say in requesting that the Board consider changing the elementary school's mascot from the Blue Devil to "The Boy With The Boot".

He argued for the validity of his request by citing the school's official calendar, the Village of Ellenville's Liberty Square and this publication as examples of places where the "Boy With The Boot" appears as a representation of the area that the school district serves.

Mr. Graham also argued that the history of the "Boy With The Boot" was one of inspiration that had strong cultural and historical ties to the area. However, Mr. Graham and his group were up against a sea of grey and blue shirts that read "Blue Devil Pride". Several people in the crowd, both young and old, held up signs of support for the longtime mascot.

Jessica Colon and Jim Graham.

Prior to the School Board's open forum, Board president Carolyn Kuhlman read a statement requesting that the large group in attendance, a large percentage of which were students, be respectful in hearing all sides of the issue that has, if anything, generated a strong wave of school pride.

The first person to speak from the public was Mr. Merril Conner who presented the School Board with a petition signed by 720 people requesting that the Board not change the mascot. Mr. Conner, a 1985 graduate of EHS and a three sport athlete during his time at the school, said that his first and only response to Mr. Graham's suggestion was "no". He warned that Mr. Graham's shift from altering the mascot for the entire district to altering the mascot for just the elementary school was simply a way to, "get their foot in the door [to change the mascot in general]".

Conner closed his remarks by requesting that the Board be, "diligent in honoring the memory" of the alumni who graduated as Ellenville Blue Devils. Following Mr. Conner was John Burns, President of the Ellenville Booster Club. Mr. Burns read a resolution that the club unanimously approved in support of the school's continuing use of the Blue Devil as its one and only mascot.

It was then that Mr. Graham and his associate, Ms. Jessica Colon, both approached the podium to make their case for why the mascot should be changed. Ms. Colon, a mother with two children in the high school and one in the elementary school, said, "I don't like want my school age children to be represented by a devil. I want something that is a symbol of courage and perseverance - not its opposite."

Throughout the meeting, Board members expressed their personal feelings about the mascot. Student Council President and Student Representative to the Board, Glenda Nunez said, "We are three schools [elementary, middle and high], yet we're one." She spoke about her concern that having a different mascot for the younger grades would "break the sense of unity" that school possessed.

Board member Chan Rivera offered similar comments, explaining that he had played as a Blue Devil and that is what he always felt he would be. After everyone had their say, the Board congratulated the audience for remaining so respectful of the differing views expressed. They were especially satisfied to see the large turnout of students and commended them on their participation and behavior.

At the meeting's end, Board member Iris Friedman asked the Board as to what would be the next step in this process. Superintendent Lisa Wiles responded that she had received many phone calls about the matter and the administration was exploring the best way to deal with the matter. Wiles did say that, "Based on what I am seeing, there is overwhelming support for the Blue Devil."

Ms. Kuhlman spoke and said that the Board works through policy decisions and this would most likely end up as one of those decisions if the administration deemed it something on which the Board would have to act.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Graham remained strong in his belief and said he will continue to persevere. He mentioned that the feelings and concerns of elementary school students have been left out of the discussion thus far and that he would be exploring a way to reach out to them for feedback.

Mr. Graham did say that the meeting was instructive. "We were able to see where everyone's heart is. Now we need to find other ways to gain traction." Mr. Graham and his group seem resolved to continue this fight. But for now, the Blue Devil remains safe.

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