MARQUETTE — The Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education on Monday will deliberate on whether to “respectfully retire” the “native chief” logo that had been used to represent the district from the early 1940s until the early 2000s.

The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Marquette Senior High School Little Theater.

While MAPS has reverted back to the original block “M,” no action has been taken on determining the official logo. This agenda item is separate from any future agenda items regarding or determining the school nicknames.

Much attention in the school district has focused lately on the possible discontinuation of the use of the names Redmen and Redettes.

Over the past few months, the board has listened to a variety of strong opinions on the issue, which followed the Marquette Senior High School Nickname Research Committee’s recommendation to cease the nicknames’ use.

The committee issued its report at the Dec. 16 MAPS board meeting.

Regarding the logo, if approved by the board on Monday, the retirement of the native logo and re-adoption of the block “M” as the official logo “may help move the district forward by officially reverting back to its original roots,” a news release said.

Those roots were when Redmen referred to all students and athletes who donned the crimson red sweaters.

The color had referred to Harvard University, the alma mater of a past MAPS superintendent.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.