TAYLOR SCHOOLS: Name, mascot and colors of 'new high school' remain undecided

Superintendent Ben Williams told The News-Herald Newspapers last week that a decision on whether or not to rename and rebrand what is now Truman High School has not been made yet. The district could even decide not to rename the new high school at all. A decision is expected soon.

Kennedy High School will close and all high school students will attend Truman beginning next school year.

In an attempt to help smooth the transition of students moving from Kennedy, several changes will take place over the next year. Truman Principal Melissa Skopczynski said a full plan could be in place by December 1.

The Kennedy freshmen were already added to Truman’s classes this year, bolstering enrollment. One of the biggest changes for the students and staff after the merger may be a new school name, mascot and possibly school colors, if the district decides on that course of action.

Mergers similar to this are nothing out of the ordinary. In Southgate, when the old Southgate and Schafer high schools merged into the Southgate building, the district renamed the new building Thomas Anderson High School, after one of the city’s historic political figures. Anderson took on an all-new nickname (Titans) and new colors (burgundy, gray and white).

As of right now, everything remains up in the air, but as the Truman principal told The News-Herald, if the new building is renamed, “All of our sports uniforms (would) have to be changed over,” Skopczynski said.

As to a new nickname and colors, talk around Taylor has offered a variety of ideas: A mascot that is come type of combination between Eagles (Kennedy), Cougars (Truman) and Rams (the told Taylor Center High School). Some people would like to see the colors reflect the historical colors of the district’s old three high schools.

But, as Supt. Williams stated, the new school name and mascot remains up for discussion – even to the point that it may not be changed at all.

Meanwhile, Truman DECA students, who run the school store, are designing and soon will be selling merchandise to commemorate Truman High School before the name is changed, so keep an eye out for that, and other special occasions like this year’s homecoming games, which are of special interest to alumni.