Last spring, Bellefonte Area School District voted on a change that effectively removed the color reference from the district’s athletic moniker — formerly the Red Raiders — and ceased the use of any Native American imagery associated with the former nickname.
This month, the board got a glimpse of what those changes might cost the district.
During an Oct. 5 meeting, Director of Fiscal Affairs Ken Bean discussed the numbers associated with re-painting two gym floors and replacing scoreboard panels and wrestling mats.
He said the figures were estimates from companies each skilled in a particular area.
Bean said the bulk of the expense will be to re-paint the gym floors in the main and auxiliary gyms to rid the well-used areas of the former Red Raider imagery. Quotes for the projects ranged from $53,990 to $77,650.
He explained any work on these gyms would need to be done when they are not in use — after the final school bell rings each spring.
“So really we are looking at next summer, trying to get someone scheduled,” he said, noting the main gym’s floor was due to be refinished soon anyway, based on the typical lifespan of such material.
He said the estimate for repainting the main gym is in the $40,000 neighborhood. Bean said he wasn’t sure if paint could be matched to paint just the section where the unwanted imagery is visible.
The second-highest price tag will be attached to the replacement of wrestling mats (approximately $18,000) and panels on the scoreboard in the main gym (approximately $2,000). It will cost $300 to replace the marquee in front of the high school, said Bean.
The school has received a $7,000 donation to help cover the cost of the changes. Bean agreed with board member Rodney Musser, who said the donation would help cover the costs of the scoreboard and changes to the sign.
“So, then you are just talking about general maintenance that would occur anyway,” said Musser.
“All the other cost would be minimal, I would say,” said Bean.
He said the district does not have many uniforms with the term “Red Raider” on them and just a few with Native American imagery. “Those would have to be cycled out,” Bean said. “Some sports don’t have multiple uniforms, but I would like to keep those in the normal cycle of the 5- to 7-year replacement, depending on the sport.”
He said the district would need to come up with something to cover the imagery on the track and field hurdles. Bean reiterated these are all just estimates, and the district could choose cheaper fixes to address the problems.
“I am not necessarily in favor of cheaper fixes, but that is just my opinion,” said Bean. The district’s rebranding committee has narrowed down concept ideas for a potential new logo, which BASD Superintendent Tammie Burnaford said should be presented to the board before Nov. 4.
