Agenda Item
a. Renaming of New Middle & High School at the Sequoyah Site
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, Board Member, District 1
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the name change for the new middle and high school at the Sequoyah site to Sequoyah Middle School and Sequoyah High School.
Why: The stakeholders of New Sequoyah Middle & High School site requested that the name of the school be renamed Sequoyah Middle School and Sequoyah High School.
Details: The committee, led by Board member Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, was composed of the required Board members and District and School leaders. Then, parents, a student, and a community member were added to make a total of 13 members.
The committee met on the following dates:
March 24. 2025
April 28, 2025*
May 13, 2025
June 10, 2025
*Public input meeting was April 28, 2025
Contact: Mrs. Michelle Dillard. Chief of Schools, Division of Schools & Leadership, 678.676.0542
Dr. Thomas Glanton, Area Superintendent for High School, Division of Schools & Leadership, 678.676.0329
Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, Board Member 678.676,0722
Effective: Upon Board Approval, the High School Area Superintendent will work with appropriate divisions to change the school's name.
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
Sequoyah Renaming Process
Meeting Note
June 10, 2025
5:30 PM
Committee Members in Attendance
1. Andrew Ziffer- DCSD Board Member
2. Whitney McGinniss – DCSD Board Member
3. Thomas Glanton – High School Area Superintendent
4. Marchell Boston - Middle School Area Executive Administrator
5. Sedrick Anthony (Sequoyah MS Former Principal) – Performance Coach
6. Tiffany Sims – Sequoyah MS Interim Principal
7. Angelica Rosso – DCSD FACE (Interpreter)
8. Blanca Ramirez – Parent
9. Beth Rhodes – Community Member
Notes:
• A quorum was established and the meeting was called to order
• The purpose of the meeting was established to review the survey results to make a recommendation
to the DCSD Board of Education
• Renaming Process scheduled was reviewed emphasizing that this was the final step in the process
• Committee reviewed the second survey results
• The survey results revealed that 317 stakeholders responded to the survey
• The Alumni submitted the majority of the votes
• The results showed the following results
o School Name - Sequoyah Middle and High Schools
o Mascot – Wolves
o Colors- Silver and Green
• The committee discussed results and were given the opportunity to ask questions and address
concerns
o The point was made that when discussing school matters, differentiation will need to be
made when referring to middle or high school
o Questions were asked why both schools had the same mascot.
▪ The same mascot is practical, promotes community, and makes it easier to share
resources when the mascot is imprinted on the resource
o Do school levels have the option to adjust mascot variations i.e. middle school may use
Wolverines and high school use Wolves?
▪ Schools may be given latitude to use variations of mascot
• The committee stated they liked the choices made for the new schools
• The committee voted unanimously to present the recommendations to the DCSD Board of Education
during the July meeting.
• There were no opposing votes
• The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 PM