Know your mascot? Decision nears for Glacier

Tuesday is decision day for Glacier High Schools mascot and school colors.

Thats when School District 5 trustees are slated to vote on what will represent the 1,200 students who eventually attend the new high school north of Kalispell after it opens in fall 2007.

But anyone sitting in on the meeting to see how the vote goes will have to be patient.

Its at the end of the regular meeting that starts at 6 p.m. in the Kalispell Junior High library.

The mascot decision is scheduled just after a discussion on which grade levels will be taught at Glacier High in its first, second and third years, and a couple of agenda items after the latest bid package for remodeling work at the junior high.

The mascot decision goes to the board with a final recommendation from a committee of students, parents and staff, headed by Superintendent Darlene Schottle, after their final meeting Monday night.

At their last meeting two weeks ago, they came up with three top candidates :

-Avalanche

-Wolfpack

-Wolverines

School colors, too, were prioritized:

-Navy blue and silver

-Navy blue and red

-Navy blue and maroon

Trustees also will get a look at a sampling of suggested logo art, in various colors, for the three mascot suggestions.

The committee has been meeting over the past six weeks to narrow down a mountain of community suggestions.

They didnt go on a simple whim; they had clear criteria.

The mascot needs to be related to the Flathead/Glacier area, cannot already be in use by a Class AA school, university or nearby school, and it must be distinctive and not abstract, be gender neutral, be politically sensitive and be marketable through visual impact. Naturally, it needs to roll off your tongue in natural combination with Glacier High.

Colors cant duplicate those of other Class AA or local schools, must be complementary and appealing, reflect Glacier if possible and look good in a uniform. And, to save cost and make them more printable, they need to be base colors instead of shades.

Committee members had a tall order to fill.

Over the past two weeks, theyve been talking to neighbors, friends and everyone else they could find in the community to see if they are close to filling it right.

If discussion Monday night shows a strong leader, Schottle said the committee will make a single recommendation to the school board Tuesday night.

If its really close, she said, we would rather pass it on to the board for a final decision.

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com