North Hills School District parents, students, staff split on logo, nickname issue

North Hills School District parents, students and employees seem split on a major decision recently made by their school board.

The high school football team hosted Shaler Area High School at Martorelli Stadium Friday night, about 24-hours after school directors voted 7-2 to stop using a Native American chief logo, but to continue using the name “Indians” for the district’s athletic teams.

Deanna Philpott and Elizabeth Nease voted against the resolution that was introduced at the board’s Sept. 15 meeting.

Some game attendees were vehemently opposed to the measure while others hope it would lead to other district changes.

“Why do we have to turn the Indian logo head into something negative when we’re actually proud of it?” said parent Ashley McDonald. “It doesn’t make sense. It’s kind of contradicting and hypocritical. You’re going to keep the Indian name, but you’re going to take the logo away.”

Nicole Patil, parent and 2001 alum, said the board should have kept both things in place. She felt the board was pressured to do something unnecessary.

“They should have just kept both,” Patil said. “I think it’s just to bring negativity. That’s just the world that we live in. They can’t think of anything in a positive light, and it’s just going suit with how everything is evolving in the world. I think it’s split (with the board). I know some board members and I know some of them run one way and some the other. I’m annoyed.”

Parents Wendy Volpe and Dawn Quinn also believe peer pressure influenced the board’s decision, and they should have not done away with the logo.

“It’s been that way for how many years? Why change it now?” Quinn said.

Some support given

Nicole Graco, band parent and secretary at Ross Elementary, called the move a step in the right direction.

“I think it’s a good start,” Graco said. “I’m not a fan of the logo. I don’t really like (them keeping the name) either, but if this is a way to phase through to eventually moving on (from the name) then I’m good with it. I do think there is more work that needs to be done.”

Graco said she would like to see the district send out a survey or find a way to get more public input on a new name and logo.

Lindsey Cunko, classroom assistant at Ross Elementary and 2005 alum, thinks the board made the best decision it could.

“I think that’s a happy medium,” Cunko said. “It’s a good compromise for both sides. I was in the band in North Hills. We prided ourselves on the (motto) pride, tradition and excellence, which I think the Indians portrayed that very well for us.”

Student opinions

Several students supporting the night’s “Pink Out” theme did not understand what the board was trying to accomplish.

“I think it’s pretty stupid because what’s the difference if you’re still calling us the Indians,” said freshman Emily Steiner. “I think they should keep (the logo) the way it is.”

Her classmates, Lou Stevens and Jakob Loncaric said they felt the same way.

“It’s very stupid because we’ve been known as the Indians for such a long time,” Lou said. “They’re so used to the name Indians, the whole entire community.”

Jakob said he and his friends do not have any problem with the logo, and it is not something that is frequently talked about in class or in the hallways.

“It’s more the teachers and the board talking about it,” he said. “I think they should keep it.”

The students said they could not recall any problems with the name or logo until the marching band tried to play at Walt Disney World earlier this year.

Shortly before the music department trip to Disney World, band members were notified that they would not be permitted to perform due to the Indian logo on the back of the home uniforms.

It was largely due to an incident involving a school from another state.

In March, Port Neches-Groves (Texas) High School drill team members, named the Indianettes, were told they were not permitted to perform in Disney World if they wore the headdresses, or war bonnets, that are part of their uniform.

The group complied with the request but were recorded chanting the words “scalp ’em, Indians, scalp ’em” during their routine.

During the April 21 voting meeting, the North Hills School Board unanimously voted to replace the home uniforms of the band.

The North Hills marching band was able to make the trip and perform at the resort by switching to its away uniforms, which do not have the Indian mascot included in the design.

The logo and name were still on the score board Friday night, as well as some of merchandise being sold at the game.

The district will work with a graphic artist to establish new district logos and images, establish guidelines and post those to its website prior to the 2023-‘24 school year.

Board members said the resolution was prepared after soliciting community feedback at a town-hall meeting in June, as well as through an online survey. Click here to see the survey results.

More than 200 comments were split with some supporting the change and some railing against it.

A letter submitted by the National Congress of American Indians advocated doing away with the logo.

In 2020, a letter signed by hundreds of former students and community members was sent to administrators and posted to Medium.com, advocating the removal of the logo.

North Hills football Coach Pat Carey and Athletic Director Pat Weber did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Penn Hills School District, whose teams also go by Indians, formed a committee in November 2020 to address a possible mascot and nickname change.

It also hosted a discussion this past April about a potential mascot change. Opinions were mixed.

The issue also was brought up in an athletic advisory committee meeting in September. The school board has yet to take any formal action.

Penn Hills school board President Erin Vecchio said Friday she wants to explore the cost of changing logos/mascots and wants more public input before any vote is taken.

“I still believe it should be up to the taxpayers of Penn Hills and not the nine school board members to change anything,” she said. “It’s taxpayer money being used.”