An effort to recall three members of the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education fizzled out, failing to collect the required number of signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The recall initiative, which targeted Board President Shawn Wilson, Vice President Lauren Christenson, and Treasurer Patrick Kehoe, began last summer after the board decided to retire Canton High School’s “Chiefs” mascot over concerns it was offensive to Native Americans, as reported by The Detroit News.
The three board members were buoyant to learn of the recall's failure, issuing a joint statement that celebrated the community's support. "We are delighted with the results and extend our gratitude to everyone who demonstrated their support," the statement said, according to The Detroit News. They asserted that it was time to move forward from negative campaigning and to instead collaboratively engage in "constructive, solution-based discussions that lead to meaningful actions."
Despite not gaining enough signatures to push the recall, which reportedly demanded 50,100 signatures—16,700 for each board member—activists behind the movement are not backing down. Steve Robb, one of the group's leaders, expressed disappointment but vowed that the fight would continue. "We're going to continue to make the community aware of what's going on with the school board and the district," Robb said, as per Hometown Life. With the school board elections approaching in November, activists are set to support candidates "more favorable to the community."
Months after the mascot change, the board ultimately voted 5-1 in December to adopt a new mascot, the Canton Cobras. This came after a 6-1 vote last July to drop the contentious "Chief" mascot and arrowhead logo. The moves by the board were initiated after students and community members voiced concerns that the existing mascot was offensive to Native Americans. Robb did not disclose the exact number of signatures the recall group accumulated but noted it was not enough to move forward.
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education normally meets twice monthly, with these sessions being accessible to the public and recorded for viewing on the district's YouTube channel. Despite the failed recall effort, Robb emphasized the group's intention to remain active. "Moving forward, our goal is to Reclaim P-CCS, keep up the momentum for changes on the school board, and make the students, not the politics, the number one priority in our school district," Robb declared, in a statement shared with Hometown Life.
