FORT SMITH (KFSM) — A Fort Smith attorney filed a lawsuit Tuesday (Sept. 1) asking for an injunction against the school board’s decision to change Southside High School’s Rebel name.
The plaintiff, Fort Smith citizen June Bradshaw, wants to keep the school district from spending public funds on the changes, which would effectively stop the district from implementing them, according to the lawsuit filed with the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk.
Bradshaw claims the Fort Smith Public School Board of Education held two meetings, one on June 23 and July 27, in which members passed motions to stop using the fight song “Dixie” for the 2015-2016 school year, the suit states. The board also decided to quit using the nickname “Rebels” and the school’s mascot, called Johnny Reb, by the 2016-2017 school year.
The document states that during both meetings, the board failed to vote on the change that would force the school and students to stop using the nickname “Rebels” or force them to remove the name from the school’s property and equipment.
Since a public meeting — and a vote — was not held, the document concludes the school district is not authorized to use public funds to change the nickname, song and mascot.
