Freeburg, Illinois

People with dwarfism find the term midget derogatory. The bill, requiring the Metro East high school to pick a replacement by 2028, could come up for debate on the House floor within two weeks.

The bill that would force Freeburg to ditch its mascot is scheduled to be called in two House Education Policy Committee hearings this week.

The Midgets mascot originated roughly 90 years ago. If passed by Illinois lawmakers, the bill would require the Metro East high school to change by September 2028.

Advocates have said Freeburg's mascot, the "Midgets” to be derogatory, objectifying and dehumanizing. A bill proposed in the Illinois General Assembly would ban public schools from using derogatory names for people with disabilities as mascots.

Jason Cerrano got the idea for the SAM Control System about 15 years ago while working a house fire for the Pattonville Fire Protection District. The system is used in more than 120 fire departments in the U.S.

Freeburg has been the “Midgets” for 90 years. Many people with dwarfism now consider the term a slur.

The Metro East school board's move is just the latest in a series of notable actions, including staff resignations, board infighting, lawsuits and court filings, a police investigation and heated debate.

Melanie Brink, who has led Freeburg’s elementary school district through two years of controversy and upheaval, is leaving to become superintendent of Belle Valley School District 119 in Belleville next year.

The post’s 104-acre property in the rural Freeburg that has been plagued by squatting and criminal activity in recent years.

The Metro East board's action follows a similar move three months ago when it also voted to censure and remove for undisclosed reasons.