Fort Smith Public School Board Member Wade Gilkey said Thursday (May 26) he will not “support any measure” to “re-introduce the former mascot,” dealing a significant setback to the effort by Fort Smith attorney Joey McCutchen to bring back the Rebel as a mascot for Southside High School.

Gilkey, who opposed the initial decision to drop the Rebel mascot and made an attempt at his first board meeting in September 2015 to return the mascot, made his decision following an emotional Monday (May 23) board meeting during which longtime and popular Fort Smith Schools Athletic Director Jim Rowland resigned.

The Fort Smith Public School Board voted 7-0 on July 27, 2015, to change the mascot and end use of the “Dixie” fight song associated with the school since it opened in 1963. The Board voted to discontinue use of “Dixie” as the Southside High School fight song in the 2015-2016 school year and to drop the Rebel as the Southside mascot in the 2016-2017 school year. A “Maverick” mascot has been adopted, and “Wabash Cannonball” is the new fight song.

McCutchen has pushed an active and public campaign to overturn the decision and reinstate the Rebel mascot and the fight song.

GILKEY DECISION, STATEMENT

Gilkey said there was a time he worked with McCutchen and others to seek a compromise on the issue. But as the issue has heated up, he said it became clear a compromise was not possible.

“There for awhile, we might have been able to do that (compromise). … But what’s happening now is that every time this thing comes up, it sucks the oxygen out of the room for everything else,” Gilkey said.

Gilkey provided this statement to Talk Business & Politics: “When I was elected back in September of 2015 I ran with the intention of giving back to a community that has given so much to me. In the past nine months we have seen a huge amount of change in our public schools. I’m even more convinced now of the immense potential and opportunities of the Fort Smith Public Schools.

“I have witnessed a tremendous amount of passion and dedication from our students, teachers, staff and community. The one thing we all agree on is our commitment to the long term success of our schools.

“Unfortunately, over these past few months the public discussion has not been about the primary issue of education but about a secondary issue of a mascot. While important, this issue does not deserve the attention it has received. I was not on the board that changed the mascot and I strongly disagree with the process through which it was handled.

“However, I do not think it is worth our time or energy to continue this debate. I will not revisit this issue or support any measure that attempts to re-introduce the former mascot.

“I look forward to finding our next Superintendent, in addition to developing and hopefully passing a prudent millage package that empowers our students. I ask you to join me in this worthwhile endeavor.”

POLITICAL MATH CHANGES

Gilkey’s decision makes the math difficult for McCutchen and others hoping the September board election would allow for a vote return the Rebel mascot and the “Dixie” fight song. The theme for Rebel mascot supporters has been “Remember in September.”

Two Fort Smith School Board positions will be up for reelection on Sept. 20, 2016, those of Susan McFerran (zone 2) and David Hunton (at-large). The filing period for these two races is from July 5-12 with petitions for candidacy launching on June 12.

Board Member Bill Hanesworth and Gilkey have been considered supporters of returning to the Rebel mascot. With pro-Rebel mascot candidates potentially winning the two positions, a 4-3 vote to return the mascot would be possible. Gilkey’s shift, if it stands, would block a majority vote.

(Talk Business & Politics has reached out to McCutchen and Hanesworth for comment on Gilkey’s decision.)