Manhasset Public Schools Tuesday released an online submission form for community members to solicit new mascot names and an application for a committee to consider them.

The form and application were outlined by Superintendent Gaurav Passi during his July presentation to the Board of Education on how to proceed with changing the district’s mascot. 

The history of Manhasset’s “Indian” mascot is traced back to the Matinecock Indian Tribe, a group that occupied a majority of the Town of North Hempstead.

The Matinecocks were forcibly removed from the territory, with Manhasset keeping the “Indian” mascot name along with having an orange feather attached to the “M” in their logo and calling their newspaper “Indian Ink.”

Manhasset’s BOE voted to eliminate the use of the name and any imagery associated with it during their June 21 meeting.

Legacy and memorial items are considered historical artifacts that do not need to be changed, along with the district’s existing colors of blue and orange, Passi said last month. 

“We are committed to involving our school community in this endeavor to envision a team name that will inspire passion and pride throughout the district,” Passi said in a statement. “Our objective is to create a team name that encapsulates Manhasset’s distinctive character, culture, traditions, and history and symbolizes our strive toward excellence while projecting a positive image for the Manhasset Public Schools.”

The Google form sent to community members will be open until Sept. 15 and includes providing an address, affiliation to the school and graduation year, if applicable.  

The team name committee interest form can be filled and submitted to the district. Applicants need to provide an address, affiliation to the district and skills that would be an asset to the committee. 

Passi said committee responsibilities will include reviewing names submitted, defining characteristics and qualities of the new name and recommending a voting process when a certain number of names have been chosen as possibilities. 

The state DOE released a memo on Nov. 17 informing school districts such as Manhasset to adopt a resolution passed last month by the board to eliminate all indigenous names, logos and mascots by the end of the 2022-23 school year.

New York’s Board of Regents unanimously voted to ban the use of Native American mascots, team names, logos and depictions on April 18.

The resolution means districts like Manhasset are required to “identify a plan to eliminate all use of the prohibited name, work, or mascot within a reasonable time, which shall be by no later than the end of the 2024-25 school year,” according to officials.