Southern Cayuga school district to hold new mascot vote

Months after scratching its initial selection for a new nickname and mascot, the Southern Cayuga Central School District will make a new selection through a community vote.

The community will decide whether "Falcons" or "Knights" replaces the district's longtime nickname and mascot of "Chiefs" on Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Southern Cayuga board of education said in a letter to the public . District residents will be able to vote from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day at the district office at 2384 Route 34B, Poplar Ridge. Students and staff will vote in their buildings.

Registered voters will check in using the same process as the annual budget vote, and nonregistered voters will need a valid ID with proof of address. Those unable to vote in person that day are asked to email the district at by Wednesday, Nov. 13, to make special arrangements.

The district plans to announce the winning selection on Friday, Nov. 22, the board of education said.

A committee of students, staff and community members will then collaborate with a professional graphic artist to design a visual representation of the new mascot.

Southern Cayuga stopped using "Chiefs" after the state Education Department announced a ban on Native American nicknames and mascots in schools in November 2022. Another Cayuga County school district, Weedsport, retired its "Warriors" nickname and mascot last year and replaced them with "Wolverines" in November .

Any schools that continue to use Native American nicknames and mascots after June 2025 may have state aid withheld.

Southern Cayuga held a vote to pick a new nickname and mascot late last year, with "Cougars" winning. However, district Superintendent Patrick Jensen told The Citizen in April that the school board ultimately rejected "Cougars" because "unfortunately the term has a negative connotation associated with it."

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or . Love Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.

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