They have spirit -- over school colors

Incoming East Ridge High students will vote to settle the South Washington Schools debate.

By KEVIN GILES, Star Tribune

Last update: May 9, 2008 - 8:34 PM

Some people are feeling blue and others are seeing red, but team colors for South Washington County's new high school soon could be a different hue altogether.

The controversy over the colors that will help to define East Ridge High School's image started innocently enough. A committee of parents and students came up with three plans for the school board. The preferred colors? Blue would be primary, with red and white as accents.

But the school board chose red because the neighboring Woodbury High School Royals already have blue.

Some parents cried foul, pointing out that Stillwater and North St. Paul high schools have red as a primary color. And others, such as Brad Allan of Woodbury, didn't think either color fit the image of Raptors, the school's mascot.

"There are no navy blue raptors that I've ever seen," said Allan, whose two daughters will be East Ridge students.

Principal Aaron Harper said he knew people were unhappy when he began receiving dozens of phone calls and e-mails. "I think it's ownership, people conceptually seeing themselves wearing a uniform," he said.

Many students who will attend East Ridge come from families who have long traditions at Woodbury High or at the district's other high school, Park in Cottage Grove, Harper said. They feel they're owed the right to choose their new traditions in exchange for giving up what's dear to them, he said.

"I was surprised to see how passionate people get," said John Soma, athletic director at neighboring Woodbury High School and co-chair of the East Ridge colors committee. "School colors and mascots give a lot of pride. It's kind of your badge of honor."

To find a quick solution, the district decided to let about 1,000 seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders vote on three proposals. They'll dream up one themselves at a 6 p.m. meeting May 18 at Cottage Grove Junior High School. The other two color options came from the committee and will be: black, purple and silver or black, gold and white. Red and blue are off the table. The school board will be asked to approve the student selection May 22.

"I guess that I'm more than happy to turn it over to those students and families," said Tracy Brunnette, a school board member. "They get to be the first ones at that school, and they get to leave their impression on the school."

When Lakeville opened a new high school in 2005, it chose to go with similar colors and related mascots to show unity. The new school, Lakeville South, has the Cougars in red and gold. Lakeville North has the Panthers in red and white.

"The bottom line was that we are Lakeville," said Neil Strader, South's activities director. "Lakeville's color is red. We went with a unifying color and mascot that linked us, but gave us our own identity."

Harper said colors go beyond school spirit to choosing carpets, lockers and bleachers.

"I was hopeful that it didn't become a controversy, but when you do anything for the first time, the likelihood is that it's not going to be perfect," Harper said.

Kevin Giles • 651-298-1554