After years of discussion, Concord High School is finally changing the name of its mascot.
In a 4-1 vote, the Mount Diablo Unified School District board voted Wednesday night to approve a recommendation to change the Concord High mascot from the "Minutemen" to the "Bears." They believe it’s a move in the right direction, while some community members believe it’s unnecessary.
Prior to the vote, some board members expressed why they’re in favor of the change.
“If changing a mascot will make students feel welcomed, embraced and empowered them to participate more at the school, then I will support this,” said Mt. Diablo Unified School board member Linda Mayo.
The discussion began a year ago after a student committee at Concord High was formed change the name, after the school district decided to replace human mascots with non-human mascots.
The committee expressed concerns about the mascot including the portrayal of the minutemen showcasing a firearm. But after months of discussions and meetings, a final vote by students decided on the bears.
But Concord High School alum like Matthew Dashner claims the committee wasn’t inclusive for students like himself, who wanted to keep the minutemen as a mascot. He says the committee never provided it as an option.
“Before they make big board decisions like this, go and talk to students on campus and see what students really have to think,” he said.
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Matthew's mother Lynette is also a Concord High School alum and believes the district should be focusing on bigger issues.
“The school is in disrepair. I mean there's dirt, rocks, squirrels all over the place,” she said.
The district has one year to make the mascot change with estimated costs at $200,000.
