Senate Education Committee approves fining "Indian" schools

A bill to impose heavy fines on schools that use unapproved Indian mascots won approval on April 1 from the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Bill 116 is sponsored by Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, who is also the sponsor of the farmworkers bill of rights measure that is awaiting action from the Senate Appropriations Committee.

About 25 schools in Colorado still use Indian mascots, including several with images considered offensive and derogatory. That includes Lamar High School that uses the Savages as its mascot.

Under SB 116, schools that refuse to stop using Indian mascots could...