Opponents of changing the Fort Smith Southside High School mascot said the cost of such a change could be $500,000 or more. The cost may be considerably less according to school officials.
The Fort Smith Public School Board voted 7-0 Monday (July 27) to change the mascot and end use of the “Dixie” fight song that has been associated with the school since it opened in 1963. The school will discontinue use of “Dixie” as the Southside High School fight song in the 2015-2016 school year and will drop the Rebel as the Southside mascot in the 2016-2017 school year.
During about 90 minutes of public input, the question was raised several times about the cost to make changes to the gym, football field, uniforms and other signage. Several of those who opposed the mascot change said during Monday’s public segment of the meeting that any conversion costs would be better spent improving facilities, buying new textbooks and preventing drug use among students.
Fort Smith attorney Joey McCutchen has said the costs related to changing the mascot could be as high as $1 million.
School Board President Dr. Deanie Mehl said the district developed an early estimate on the cost and asked District Superintendent Dr. Bennie Gooden to report the information. Gooden told the Board and audience that changing facility signage could cost up to $90,000. He said if all uniforms are replaced at once, the cost would be around $160,000. However, he said 30% to 40% of uniforms are replaced annually, which would reduce the cost attributed to the mascot change.
He said the bottom line on a conversion cost would be around $200,000.
Mehl said any money spent on the conversion would not come from future millage proceeds. Gooden said it is likely the district has “sufficient funds to cover” the changes and will not have to use future state or local funds.
As to the process of changing the mascot, Mehl said Southside High School Principal Wayne Haver will form a committee of students, faculty, alum and others to develop a new name and traditions.
After Monday’s meeting, Gooden told The City Wire he was happy the process was placed in “his (Haver’s) capable hands.”