St. Petersburg High School’s School Advisory Committee (SAC) holds meetings on the second Monday of each month at six p.m., discussing various ideas and issues brought to the group’s attention. Attended routinely by Committee and Student Government representatives, along with other members of the school community, SAC meetings typically don’t attract major attention.
However, when the Green Devil mascot is threatened, this reputation becomes subject to change.
Arguing that the Green Devil represents “moral corruption,” SPHS parent R.J. Garbowicz asked SAC to propose a “Mascot Review and Rebranding Committee” to come up with alternative symbols to represent St. Pete High. So, on November 10th, with intentions to fight for the mascot, over 200 students, staff, alumni, family members, and supporters gathered in the cafeteria for what would be the largest SAC meeting in St. Pete High history. Community members’ voices were highlighted, through both planned and impromptu speeches, and the meeting–without the presence of Mr. Garbowicz–quickly became a unifying experience for those in attendance…