STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MICHAEL F. RICE, Ph.D. GRETCHEN WHITMER LANSING GOVERNOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT
MEMORANDUM
DATE: February 23, 2021
TO: State Board of Education
FROM: Michael F. Rice, Ph.D., Chairperson
SUBJECT: Approval of Request to Change Name of Lewis Cass Intermediate School District to Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District
Section 380.604 of the Revised School Code requires that an Intermediate Board of Education obtain the approval of the State Board of Education prior to adopting a distinctive name:
Sec. 604. An intermediate school district is a body corporate governed by an intermediate school board, to be known as “the intermediate school board of the ______,” and under the name may sue and be sued. The intermediate school board may choose a distinctive name for the intermediate school district if approval is given by the state board.
The Lewis Cass Intermediate School District board of education voted to rename the intermediate school district to Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District. A letter dated January 28, 2021 has been received from the superintendent of the Lewis Cass Intermediate School District to change its name to “Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District.” A copy of the letter of request and school board resolution are attached.
It is recommended that the State Board of Education approve the request of Lewis Cass Intermediate School District to change its name to Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District, as described in the state superintendent’s memorandum dated February 23, 2021.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
CASANDRA E. ULBRICH – PRESIDENT • PAMELA PUGH – VICE PRESIDENT TIFFANY D. TILLEY – SECRETARY • TOM MCMILLIN – TREASURER JUDITH PRITCHETT – NASBE DELEGATE • ELLEN COGEN LIPTON NIKKI SNYDER • JASON STRAYHORN
608 WEST ALLEGAN STREET • P.O. BOX 30008 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 www.michigan.gov/mde • 833-633-5788
To: Lewis Cass ISD Board of Education
From: ISD Name Committee
• Julie Dye – Pokagon Tribal Representative • Skip Dyes – LCISD Board of Education Representative • David Fair – Dowagiac Community Representative • Brent Holcomb – LCISD Superintendent • Diane Schultz – LCISD Parent Representative • Tina Wimberley – LCISD Employee Representative
RE: Recommendation the Question of Re-Naming the ISD
After two meetings centered on the history of Lewis Cass, discussion was heard in opposition to and support for changing the name of the ISD. It was the consensus of the committee to recommend that the name of the ISD should be changed. This decision is based on a majority consensus of Lewis Cass’s role in the policy on the removal of Native Americans from their land and a unanimous consensus of his political position for southern states to continue with owning slaves. We do not intend to rewrite or change the significance of Lewis Cass in Michigan history. Rather this recommendation is meant to acknowledge the importance of the Native American and African American community in Cass County. Given the ISD’s role of providing educational services to all the children in Cass County, regardless of race, this change aligns with the ISD’s mission. Why Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District?
The conversation for a new name centered on the history of Cass County. Initially, we focused on the natural aspects of the county and the reason people settled in this area of Michigan. Much of the area was unwooded prairie that lent itself to farming. Additionally, the lakes and rivers were important to life in the county. The areas of woods and wildlife were also essential to life.
Ultimately, we were drawn back to the topic of the people who live in Cass County. In the early time of Michigan’s settlement, the region was home to resident Native Americans of the Potawatomi nation. The Pokagon Band is still a significant member of the Cass County community. White settlement came to the region by way of New England and the South. Southern Quakers were important in assisting in the establishment of land ownership for African Americans. Cass County proved to be a significant center for African Americans in Michigan pre-1860’s. A more recent community is people of Hispanic background who settled here due to the agriculture in the region. As one member of our group stated…..everyone has history.
The consensus was “Heritage” best summed up the people and the natural history of the county.
Heritage is our inheritance, what the past has given us, what we value, and what we choose to preserve for future generations. Heritage and associated memories give us a common language and insight that allows us to communicate on a deeper level with one another and how we show ourselves to the world outside our region. Heritage helps shape who we are. Our expression of this identity shows others what we value and prioritize. Heritage is a keystone to culture and helps shape our view of who we are. (credit to the Heritage Council of Ireland for helping to frame What is Heritage)
Most evident is the directional aspect of “Southwest”, pointing to our ISD location in Michigan. Our goal was to try to respect the geographic names (county names and such) of ISD’s in Michigan.
Our hope is the ISD will represent the best of the people and overall history of the county.