Chapter PI 45

USE OF RACE-BASED NICKNAMES, LOGOS, MASCOTS, AND TEAM NAMES

PI 45.01   Purpose.

PI 45.02   Definitions.

PI 45.03   Complaint procedures.

Ch. PI 45 Note Note: Chapter PI 45 as it existed on August 31, 2015 was repealed and a new chapter PI 45 was created Register August 2015 No. 716, effective September 1, 2015.

PI 45.01 PI 45.01 Purpose.

PI 45.01(1) (1) Section 118.134 (1), Stats., allows a school district resident to object to the use of a race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name by the school board of that school district by filing a complaint with the state superintendent.

PI 45.01(2) (2) Under s. 118.134 (4), Stats., the state superintendent is required to promulgate rules necessary to implement and administer s. 118.134, Stats.

PI 45.01 History History: CR 15-012: cr. Register August 2015 No. 716, eff. 9-1-15.

PI 45.02 PI 45.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

PI 45.02(1) (1) “Bias” means an inclination for or against a person or group of persons based, in whole or in part, on race that inhibits impartial or objective judgment affecting pupils.

PI 45.02(2) (2) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

PI 45.02(3) (3) “Discrimination” means any action, policy, or practice, including bias, stereotyping, and pupil harassment, that is detrimental to a person or group of persons and differentiates or distinguishes among persons, or which limits or denies a person or group of persons opportunities, privileges, roles, or rewards based, in whole or in part, on race, or which perpetuates the effects of past discrimination based in whole or in part on race.

PI 45.02(4) (4) “Division” means the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.

PI 45.02(5) (5) “Elector” means a U.S. citizen age 18 or older who resides in the school district.

PI 45.02(6) (6) “Federally recognized American Indian tribe” means a tribal entity recognized and eligible for funding and services from the bureau of Indian affairs by virtue of its status as an Indian tribe.

PI 45.02(7) (7) “Logo” means any written, printed, graphic or photographic, badge, emblem, caricature, image, statue, artifact, or other symbolic depiction representative of or in any way connected to the identity of a school, school district, or school board.

PI 45.02(8) (8) “Mascot” means a person, costume, insignia, dance, song, rhythmic beat, or any other object or thing representative of or in any way connected to the identity of a school, school district, or school board.

PI 45.02(9) (9) “Membership” has the meaning given in s. 121.004 (5), Stats.

PI 45.02(10) (10) “Nickname” means any name, title, label, word, or any other designation of any kind representative of or in any way connected to the identity of a school, school district, or school board, but does not include the official name of a school or school district.

PI 45.02(11) (11) “Pupil harassment” means behavior towards pupils based, in whole or in part, on race, that substantially interferes with a pupil’s school performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive school environment.

PI 45.02(12) (12) “School board” means the school board in charge of the public schools of a district.

PI 45.02(13) (13) “School district” has the meaning given in s. 115.01 (3), Stats.

PI 45.02(14) (14) “Stereotyping” means attributing behaviors, abilities, interests, values, and roles to a person or group of persons on the basis, in whole or in part, of their race.

PI 45.02(15) (15) “Use” includes adoption of nicknames, logos, mascots, or team names by a school district board as representative of or in any way connected to the identity of a school, district, or board or the display of nicknames, logos, mascots, or team names at any school or school sponsored event.

PI 45.02 History History: CR 15-012: cr. Register August 2015 No. 716, eff. 9-1-15.

PI 45.03 PI 45.03 Complaint procedures.

PI 45.03(1) (1) A complaint filed under s. 118.134 (1), Stats., shall be submitted to the state superintendent in writing and include all of the following information:

PI 45.03(1)(a) (a) The complainant’s contact information.

PI 45.03(1)(b) (b) A statement that the complainant is a resident of the school district to which the complaint is directed.

PI 45.03(1)(c) (c) Signatures, obtained within the 120 day period before the complaint is filed, of school district electors equal to at least 10 percent of the school district’s membership.

PI 45.03(2) (2) Upon receipt of a complaint, the state superintendent shall notify the school district of the complaint, and direct the school board to submit, if applicable, the information under sub. (3).

PI 45.03(3) (3) If applicable, within 10 days of receiving the notice under sub. (2), the school board shall submit evidence of the following:

PI 45.03(3)(a) (a) The school board has a written agreement with a federally recognized American Indian tribe that has historical ties to the state that grants approval to the school board to use the nickname, logo, mascot, or team name used by the school board.

PI 45.03(3)(b) (b) The use of the nickname, logo, mascot, or team name that has been approved by a tribe under par. (a) is the use to which the school district resident objects in the complaint.

PI 45.03(3)(c) (c) That the tribe has not rescinded that agreement.

PI 45.03(4) (4) 

PI 45.03(4)(a) (a) Except as specified under par. (b), the state superintendent shall refer the complaint to the division for a contested case hearing.

PI 45.03(4)(b) (b) The state superintendent may determine that no contested case hearing is necessary if the board provides the information under sub. (3).

PI 45.03(4)(c) (c) If the state superintendent determines a contested case hearing is not necessary, the state superintendent shall notify the complainant of this decision in writing.

PI 45.03 History History: CR 15-012: cr. Register August 2015 No. 716, eff. 9-1-15.