The Owego Apalachin Central School District officially retired its Native American mascot and replaced it with a River Hawks mascot, effective immediately, it announced Tuesday afternoon.

The decision was made after months of consultation in the district, and informed by the state Education Department's ruling that bans the use of Native American nicknames and imagery in educational institutions, the district said in a statement.

The River Hawks mascot was chosen from polling and public meetings, and pays tribute to the region's connection to the Susquehanna River and long history of indigenous people in the area, the district said.

"Our district is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters respect, understanding, and unity among all students," Superintendent Corey Green said. "I’d like to thank the members of our various committees, especially those students and staff, who have been the driving force behind gathering and analyzing the thoughts and data collected during this process."

The district has started working on a design for a new logo and rebranding process. It plans to use its traditional red and blue colors, and released temporary logos on Tuesday that it will use until the change is completed.