Update on Efforts to Bring the CMS Tiger Back

Jun 3, 20241 Comment

Helen Gabara

I would like to provide an update on efforts to reinstate the CMS Tiger Mascot.

Since my last article, I have received documents as a result of an OPRA request. I sent the OPRA request to help my daughter with her advocacy efforts. Not surprisingly, a Candidate for Town Council accused me of “weaponizing OPRA”.

The information I received from the District established certain facts:

(1) Mr. Geiger found out in the fall of ’21, after a survey in August of ’21, that staff with a connection and history of the Tiger were opposed to the mascot change. He said a survey needed to go out to a wider group.

(2) In 2022, Mr. Kobliska contacted the PTO, asking for information only regarding how much Tiger ‘stuff’ they had on hand. In addition to giving that information, the PTO said a survey had been conducted, but students should be included. Mr. Kobliska said he would get stakeholders together to discuss the issue, but I, as a CMS parent, don’t remember being informed that this was going on.

After Serena and I initiated our initial fb postings to gauge the community’s sentiments, we discovered a strong attachment to the tradition and history of our town and school. This sentiment is deeply respected and understood.

The last we heard from the current administration, Mr. Nixon-Acting Superintendent, was that there would be a committee to find out how the community feels. How can he find out anything else but that people have strong feelings to keep with tradition and history of our town and school.

I decided not to include all the documents received from the OPRA request as it includes emails from parents and teachers, however Community members are welcome to make the same OPRA request to verify the above.

Here is an image of my original request: