School District wrestles with Redskins donation

The San Juan School District continues to wrestle with a donation received from a charitable organization affiliated with the Washington Redskins NFL football team.
Representatives from the organization attended a football game in August at Monument Valley and informed the school of a $30,000 donation of equipment. In addition, the organization may provide additional funding, including bleachers.
The donation was the result of a 2013 letter from then principal Dr. Sylvia McMillan. McMillan is no longer at the school.
School board member Nelson Yellowman, who is from the Monument Valley area, expressed reservations of accepting the money.
“Redskins is a racial slur, similar to that N-word for African-Americans,” said Yellowman.
Board members Elsie Dee and Bill Boyle expressed support for Yellowman’s position.
Board member Merri Shumway asked if the district could reject a donation from a legitimate organization.
“As long as the donation doesn’t encumber the district, can we reject it?” asked Shumway.
Yellowman reports that the Monument Valley community is split on the matter, with some expressing a hesitancy to accept the money and others wanting to accept it.
The Redskins organization created the nonprofit foundation to provide donations to Native American programs throughout the nation. The NFL football team is in a firestorm of controversy over the use of the name Redskins.
Before it is determined what to do with the donation, the district will investigate any additional donations or how the district is required to handle the donation.