February 3, 2023 | By Kellen M. Quigley | Olean Times Herald
The school has been opening its doors to the public several times since the new year so district residents can share their thoughts and concerns and ask questions regarding the state Education Department mandate that schools must stop using Indigenous names and imagery by the end of the school year.
Most of the school district lies within the Allegany Territory of the Seneca Nation. At least 30% of Salamanca students identify as Native American with one recent poll reporting 38%. Many athletics teams in Salamanca have a large number of Seneca students on the rosters, with some teams such as boys and girls lacrosse consisting mostly of Native players.
A recent update from the Education Department said the new rule will become permanent on May 3rd and districts have until June 30th to indicate they will cease using names or logos connected to Native American or Indigenous peoples. From there, districts have two years to remove all names and imagery from their schools by June 30, 2025.
Future forums may be added in the coming weeks. In addition to the public forums, the district will soon have digital surveys and written opportunities available to provide feedback. For more information, visit salamancany.org.
