Cy-Fair ISD Rebrands Spirit Group, Leaving Special Needs Students Feeling Sidelined

Rowdies Spirit Group Rebranding

• 📣 Parents in Cy-Fair ISD are expressing concern over the rebranding of the longtime spirit group, the Rowdies, to "Ranch Hands."
• 💔 Two seniors with special needs, who were integral members of the Rowdies, feel they have been left on the sidelines due to these changes.

Impact on Special Needs Students

• 🏈 For students like Brady Smith and Sienna Burrus, being part of the Rowdies and running the Mustang Flags was a highlight of their high school experience, providing a sense of belonging.
• 😔 The rebranding has led to other sports teams and even football dads rotating in to run the flags, diminishing the consistent presence of the Rowdies and impacting the special needs students' participation.
• 🗣️ When asked about the changes, Sienna expressed that it makes her feel "hard" and "on the sideline."

District's Perspective and Parent Concerns

• 🔄 The district states the rebranding is about expanding spirit and involves rotating other teams to run the flags, asserting it's a restructuring, not exclusion.
• ⚖️ Parents are requesting equal time and representation for the students, emphasizing that they signed up and paid for a specific experience.
• 😥 Parents of special needs children feel it's unfair to have to constantly advocate for their child's inclusion within the school system.
• 🏅 Sienna, who is also a varsity swimmer and heading to the Special Olympics USA next year, feels the change has taken away from her senior year tradition.