Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sleepy Eye Public Schools is looking for legislative help to pay an estimated $500,000 cost of changing its mascot from the Indians to the Storm. The name change deadline has been extended to Sept. 1, 2026.

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Public School Superintendent John Cselovszki told the school board Wednesday he is optimistic about possible funding help for required mascot replacement costs estimated at $500,000.

“On Tuesday, I returned a phone call from Rep. Torkelson, (R-Hanska). The initial conversation was about the mascot,” said Cselovszki. “Two years ago, we approached (Lower Sioux) tribe about (keeping the Indian mascot) and their answer was a resounding ‘no.’ I told him I thought the board did a really nice job selecting a (new) mascot, we have everything in place and we know the (new Sept. 1, 2026) deadline. All we need is money.”

He said Torkelson and Sen. Gary Dahms, (R-Redwood Falls), are still on board to help the school district deal with the expensive proposition of mascot change.

“With the shrinking number of state schools required to change mascots, Torkelson feels there may be a better chance to fund their legislative bill introduced last year to help fund school mascot replacement,” Cselovszki said.

Torkelson said he and Sen. Dahms are interested in talking with Lower Sioux community leadership about issues that impact them including mascot replacement.

“I feel the Lower Sioux could help support the effort to make the mascot change. The timing of it could matter as we move forward,” he said. “The fact that it’s Sleepy Eye Public School is a connection with the tribe that won’t go away. We just want to be fair and do it right. We introduced a bill for mascot replacement costs last year and plan to use the same bill this year. If it needs tweaking, we’ll amend it.”

Torkelson called the mascot change “a very expensive proposition that the school really can’t afford for something that isn’t going to help the academic success of the school and includes projects like repainting the gym floor, new uniforms and signage.”

After discussion and votes on three versions of the Storm mascot in June, the Sleepy Eye school board approved the mascot by a 4-2 vote.

That decision followed a mascot survey of 271 students and staff that favored the same logo, with the word “Storm” pictured over a tornado with 146 votes. A logo with two eyes, tornado and lightning bolt received 97 votes. A logo with eyes and two lightning bolts got 28 votes.

The school board approved the storm mascot over the Bearcats by a 4-3 vote in March 2024. A Phoenix mascot was also considered.

A school mascot committee originally submitted 55 mascot names for consideration. The list included the Lakers, Prairie Wolves, Wildcats, Wolverines, Sturgeon, Owls, Orioles, Bearcats, Lions, Ravens, Sunsets, Dragons and Legends, to name a few.