Plan for new Robert Smalls mascot moves forward
The Beaufort County School Board's student services committee recommended approval Tuesday of a mascot that is time-period accurate and represents Smalls, committee co-chair Evva Anderson said. Smalls was a Beaufort native born a slave who became a Civil War hero and congressman.
The mascot will go before the school board at its meeting Oct. 6, where it can be approved with one vote unless pulled for further discussion, Anderson said.
The mascot's name will remain the Generals.
Three options for a new logo were also presented to the committee by Robert Smalls International Academy's school improvement council. Committee members asked for a redesign blending some elements from each to make the logo stand out and will consider the new look next month.
"You've got to keep the cool factor for the kids," Anderson said. "...I believe the kids will be pleased with what they have. I think it's going to be kind of cool and even something they will like to wear on their T-shirts."
The logo is also expected to be representative of Smalls and time-period appropriate, ending a controversy with alumni of the original Robert Smalls School.
A logo of a man with a two-toned face, ponytail and wearing Colonial-era garb that the school used on its welcome mat and website rankled members of the Robert Smalls Association, a group of those who attended the all-black Robert Smalls School.
Members of the association's executive committee met with the school improvement council to help determine the school's logo and mascot.
"I would say we got what we wanted," Robert Smalls Association president Linda Robinson said. "Everything is back the way it should be."
Robert Smalls Middle School was renamed the Robert Smalls International Academy last year as the school transitioned to a prekindergarten through eighth-grade configuration. The school's logo had previously been a "G" for general.
Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.
Related content:
- Robert Smalls International Academy to scrap logo some found offensive, June 15, 2015
- Alumni offended by Robert Smalls school logo, May 14, 2015
This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 1:20 PM with the headline "Plan for new Robert Smalls mascot moves forward."