SB21-116

Please join the Lamar School District Board of Education for a community forum on July 15th at 7:00 PM at the Lamar High School Auditorium to learn about and discuss Senate Bill 21-116 Concerning the Prohibition of American Indian Mascots in Colorado. The bill was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on June 28th. This law prohibits the use of American Indian mascots by public schools as of June 1, 2022. The bill imposes a fine of $25,000 per month for each month that a school continues to use a mascot after such date, payable to the state education fund.

This community forum is an opportunity to learn more about the law, the activities the Board of Education has engaged in over the last year and the steps the district will need to take over the next year. We are asking for your feedback and input. To allow sufficient time for perspective from all community members interested in speaking, the board will limit comments to 3 minutes per individual.

Please share this meeting notice with others and we look forward to hearing from you.

June 19, 2021 - Press Release

Bill Update

Release 06_19_21.docx

May 11, 2021 - Press Release

Bill Summary & Hearing Information

Mascot Bill Update - Media 05_11_21.docx

May 19, 2022

The Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs (CCIA) met for their fourth quarterly meeting on May 19, 2022. CCIA voted to amend the list of schools which were non-compliant with SB21-116. Lamar High School was not removed from the list following our submission of evidence of change and other relevant artifacts which were provided to the CCIA on April 29, 2022.

To ensure the District immediately comes into compliance with the law, the RE-2 Board of Education adopted a resolution changing our high school mascot and name to the Lamar Thunder.

The Lamar School District will be working with the CCIA in the days ahead to resolve the issue in order to avoid the monthly financial penalty of $25,000 set to begin June 1, 2022.