DPI To Conduct Hearing On Rules for Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names

Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will conduct a hearing from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, July 29, at the department’s Madison headquarters, GEF 3, Room 041, 125 South Webster Street, to take public testimony on emergency and proposed permanent rules related to new legislation on race-based nicknames, logos, mascots, and team names.

Enacted this spring, 2009 Wisconsin Act 250 allows a school district resident who objects to the use of a race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name by the school board of that school district to file a complaint with the state superintendent. The legislation requires immediate review of the complaint to determine whether the use of the nickname or team name, alone or in connection with a logo or mascot, is ambiguous or unambiguous in being race-based.

The emergency and proposed permanent rules specify that the use of certain nicknames or team names are unambiguously race-based and presumed to promote discrimination, pupil harassment or stereotyping unless the school district produces clear and convincing evidence refuting this presumption. The proposed rules establish procedures for a school district resident to submit a complaint about a race-based nickname or team name; information a school district must provide when there is a complaint and if the nickname or team name is found to be ambiguous; and depending on the result of the complaint review, the timeframe for the state superintendent to notify the parties or schedule a contested case hearing.

The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. A copy of the administrative rules and fiscal estimate are available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pb/rulespg.html. Copies of these materials also are available by sending an e-mail request to lori.slauson@dpi.wi.gov or by writing to Lori Slauson, budget analyst and administrative rules coordinator, DPI, 125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841. Written comments on the proposed rules may be submitted via U.S. mail or e-mail to the addresses above no later than Aug. 4 and will receive the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearings.

Posted @ 3:49 p.m.