Editorial: Mascot solution in sight

It’s clear there are strong feelings on both sides of the 7-year-old controversy about renaming the Laguna Beach High School mascot from Artists to Breakers. It’s also clear there may be a resolution in the works under a new district administration that is not afraid to tackle a tough subject.

A lot of people have examined how the school mascot name got changed, and a lot was written about it in the newspapers at the time. A detailed report on the controversy was written by the Laguna Beach League of Women Voters, who were asked to look into the handling of two school elections held to determine and uphold the name change.

The sharp-eyed League weighed in with a blunt assessment that not all was up to snuff in how the voting took place.

But there are other opinions that the “will” of students prevailed.

There is, in short, a lot of material on the record, and many people on both sides are now stepping forward with their own accounts of how the name change happened. This is all to the good, as a full airing of the issue will serve to purge nagging doubts and to move the issue forward.

The coming school year will no doubt be a difficult one, with the state budget still awash in red ink that could get even more critical unless the overall economy does a whirlwind turnaround. A 7-year-old issue may not get front-burner attention, and a quick resolution may not be in sight.

But it’s heartening to hear spokespersons from both sides of this thorny issue agree that they are pleased with Supt. Robert Fraisse’s promise to bring the issue out into the open through a public process involving the Board of Education, students, parents, alumni and the community.

In fact, a consensus seems to be building that a compromise to recognize both the Breakers and the Artists could be forthcoming. That would be something to cheer about.

In the meantime, we are conducting an informal poll on the issue, so let us know whether you favor the Artists, the Breakers or a compromise plan by emailing coastlinepilot@latimes.com.