At the August 13 meeting of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District’s Board of Education board member Monique Wolf asked if the district’s three schools can still sell ‘Raiders’ gear in the school stores. She also wanted to know if the word Raiders can be used on t-shirts and other various gear that the schools use.

The short answer from Superintendent Michael McElduff was “yes”. The longer answer was a little more complicated.

“We are still able to use the word ‘Raiders’ this year, but then it must sunset,” he explained. “We were not told we could not use it this year.”

That’s due to a one-year extension that the HF-FMCSD recently got from New York State. As the district works toward coming up with a new mascot name, they also must come up with a plan to pay to redo the end zones of both of O’Neill High Schools fields, as well as to eliminate the word Raiders anywhere else it currently shows up – it’s for that reason the waiver was granted.

It was several years ago that the New York State Board of Regents implemented a ruling prohibiting public schools from using indigenous mascots, names or images. Shortly after that the HF-FMCSD stopped using an Indian head in its logo, hoping that would appease the state. It did not.

An advisory committee – with students, parents and school faculty and staff – will be created in September to help come up with the name. McElduff said the new name will be in place well before the start of the 2027-28 school year so that uniforms, fan gear, etc. can be ordered.

Board President Anne Lawless noted that once that committee does its work, the names will be forwarded to district administration, and then on the board.

Lawless added that the school district can choose its new mascot name, but it has no choice in the matter of not using it. “We fought it as long as we could; we’re one of the few districts in the state left using a name that’s been banned. This is no longer a choice, and not a matter that we, the board gets a say in.”

But, back to Wolf’s question – McElduff advised that while it would no be prudent to order new uniforms or gear that say use the word Raiders, remaining stock in school stores, spirit wear, etc. can be sold. Athletic Director Brooks Alexander said that the high school is currently using JIO (James I. O’Neill) on any new items ordered for athletic teams, getting away from Raiders.

The community as a whole hasn’t been happy with the state’s decision, with many social media posts proclaiming ‘Once a Raider, always a Raider’. One board member at the meeting noted (half under his breath) that while the state could stop the district from using it officially, the gear already owned by former students and community members, whether featuring the Indian head, or word Raiders, is theirs to do what they want with, including wearing it.