Superintendent Thomas J. Haupt told the district’s board of directors at its Feb. 13 study session that more than a half dozen logos are used to represent the school’s mascot, The Knights. Haupt encouraged the board to choose one logo to ensure uniformity throughout the district. Haupt said it would be ideal for the board to choose a logo soon so it can be incorporated into gymnasium renovations planned for this summer.

"I am always concerned about the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back," Haupt said. "I want people to support the Fairfield Knights, not iteration seven of the Fairfield Knights."

Haupt said the current most popular logo, which shows a Knight wielding a sword over the word "Knights," is used by a technical college. Haupt wishes for Fairfield Knights to have a logo unique to the district.

Board Vice President Jack Liller suggested students design logo possibilities. If the board likes a student submission, they will send it to a professional graphic artist for inspiration. Haupt said he will pursue Liller’s suggestion but noted the process must be expedited so a logo can be finalized by this summer. The district will then phase out all other iterations of The Knights logo.

School Calendar

The board sent a proposed school calendar back to committee for review. Haupt presented a 2023-24 school calendar that was created by a committee consisting of students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Haupt noted the committee’s top objective was to ensure the proposed graduation date of May 29, 2024 does not change.

The board commented favorably on the proposal but encouraged the committee to give students off on Friday, Sept. 22. The Borough of Fairfield hosts a community-wide celebration of the apple harvest that weekend called Pippenfest. Most activities occur on the weekend but many residents host yard sales beginning on Friday. Bus drivers have told the district that navigating borough streets is difficult the Friday before Pippenfest weekend, Liller said. He also added students should be available to help with Pippenfest preparations.

"It wouldn’t be bad to get behind our community’s one big event," Liller said.

Haupt said he understood the concern but was struggling with suggesting an alternative classroom day to make up for Sept. 22. He and the committee will research options to present to the board.

"We should put forth an educationally-rich calendar and I believe that is what we have," Haupt said.

Transportation Request

During the public comment portion of the meeting, a daycare owner asked the district to provide transportation from her business to the middle school. Melissa Cavey, owner of Caterpillar Clubhouse on Fairfield’s Main Street, said next year she will have possibly four students in her before-school program who will attend the middle school. The district currently does not provide transportation for middle and high school students who live less than one and a half miles from the campus. Parents are uncomfortable allowing 10-year-old students to walk to school, Cavey said.

"It would be hard just to have a staff member exclusively walk the kids down," she said.

Board President Jennifer Holz told Cavey the district will examine the issue. Liller expressed understanding for Cavey’s concern but said he fears transporting students who attend Caterpillar Clubhouse will lead to vastly expanding who can ride a school bus.