The Forest Hills School District board voted to change the Anderson High School mascot or logo, the "Redskins," during a special meeting Thursday afternoon.
The motion was presented by board member Demetria Choice and passed four to one.
Board president Forest Heis and members Choice, Elizabeth Barber and Leslie Rasmussen voted in favor of the motion. Board member Patty Taylor voted against the motion.
Taylor voiced that she would like to postpone the vote, stating she was against the "method" of changing the mascot at this time without public discussion outside of emails.
"If I disagree, I'm not a racist and I refuse to accept that," Taylor said. "Everyone has a right not to be offended. But if I do not agree with your narrative, then I'm the problem?"
Heis stated that when this discussion was brought up about four weeks ago, his initial thought was: "What am I gonna do to keep the Redskins?"
But after talking with Anderson High School administrators and learning about the divisiveness of the mascot, his opinions changed.
"I want my principal to stand up in a gym and put his hand up, or her hand up, and say, 'Go whatever!' and all the kids are behind it," Heis said.
Thursday's meeting and vote came after Tuesday's special board meeting and discussion on the mascot, which lasted nearly two hours.
Extra patrols at board member's neighborhood
Following Tuesday's meeting, Rasmussen said she was nervous about going back to in-person meetings in the future.
She said she received some concerning messages since making her opinion known against the Anderson mascot.
The board convened virtually for a special meeting on Tuesday in response to growing public unrest about Anderson's controversial name.
At the Tuesday meeting, Rasmussen was clear in her opinion: the mascot must be changed now.
"When you know better, you do better," Rasmussen said.
Other board members disagreed, specifically Taylor, who said the district should focus on other, more important issues like getting a plan together for students to return in the fall.
Since the meeting, Rasmussen said she received at least one potentially threatening voicemail message on her direct line, and that the district also received a concerning message at the main office.
Anderson Township Trustee Andrew Pappas wrote on Facebook after the meeting.
"From what I hear A PhD in communications comes with a minor in bullying and an absence of social skills and self control. Elected a bully," Pappas wrote on Facebook Wednesday.
In the comments, others identified Rasmussen and one user provided her work email, phone number and office location. Rasmussen is a professor at Xavier University.
"If we were in session right now, he would have put my colleagues' lives in danger, my students, anyone," Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Xavier University is aware of the messages.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office was also aware of the voicemail, said Public Information Officer Dave Daugherty. He said a telephone harassment report was filed, in which an "inappropriate voicemail with vulgar language" was detailed.
Daugherty confirmed extra patrols are dispatched in these situations, and that extra patrols remained active in the neighborhood Thursday.
This is not the first time Rasmussen has accused Pappas of bullying.
The first tiff between Rasmussen and Pappas came during Rasmussen's campaign to join the school board, when Pappas posted a sign labeling her an "educrat."
Months later, the two ran into each other while driving on Beechmont Avenue. Rasmussen said Pappas stalked her and "terrorized" her 6-year-old daughter. Pappas said Rasmussen was driving erratically and that's why he tracked down her car to get her license plate number.
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This time, Rasmussen said the abuse is "next level."
"Andrew Pappas keeps this up," Rasmussen said.
Pappas did not respond to The Enquirer Thursday for comment.
In district emails obtained by The Enquirer, an Anderson Township native and 1984 Anderson High School graduate wrote that Rasmussen should resign from the board if she does not apologize for her behavior at Tuesday's meeting.
"Leslie was an embarrassment for the Forest Hills School district," the email reads. "She was acting unprofessional, immature, hot headed, abrasive, condescending, and totally unhinged. She couldn't be reigned in."
None of the emails obtained by The Enquirer mentioned physical threats against Rasmussen. Any threats remained confined to her position on the board, and her legacy as a board member.
"I will support ANY candidate in the future who runs against ANY board member who votes to remove the current mascot/logo," another email reads.
That email message ends with: "Remove the mascot and it's Game On."
District Superintendent Scot Prebles provided the following statement regarding the emails and calls: "We care for and respect all of our board members. They speak passionately and frankly because they care deeply about our students and the community. However, they’re also entitled to be safe and free from harassment."
Next meeting in 1 week
After the motion to retire "Redskins" passed Thursday afternoon, Taylor presented a motion to postpone the vote. No one seconded that motion.
Moving forward, the district will soon announce a process and guidelines to select a new mascot and brand for Anderson High School, school officials said. The "Redskins" logo will phase out in stages beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.
“Next steps in the process will begin in July and will include the creation of a timeline and the organization of a committee charged to lead the transition,” Prebles said. “As the careful allocation of fiscal resources is always top of mind, the school will also launch a fundraising committee to ensure this transition takes place in the most cost-effective manner and using private donations to the greatest extent possible.”
Heis said the next board meeting is set for July 10 at 7 a.m., which will be held virtually.
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