Friday, June 13, 2025
The Wantagh School District has been granted an extension to comply with New York State’s ban on Native American mascots and imagery, according to a news reports. The district now has until the end of June to make necessary changes to its Warriors mascot and branding.
Also receiving more time is the Connetquot School District, which now has until March 1, 2026, to comply with the state regulation, according to News 12. The Massapequa School District, meanwhile, is continuing to challenge the ban in court.
The regulation at the center of the dispute was adopted by the New York State Board of Regents in April 2023 and directs school districts to discontinue the use of Native American mascots, names and logos. Schools that fail to comply by the end of the 2024–25 school year risk losing state aid but may apply for an extension if they demonstrate progress.
Opposition to the mandate has grown among several Long Island districts, including Wantagh, which filed a federal lawsuit last fall with Wyandanch, Connetquot and Massapequa. The suit was dismissed in March by U.S. Chief District Judge Margo Brodie, who ruled the districts lacked legal standing and did not provide sufficient evidence of harm. Wantagh officials have said they intend to appeal.
In April, Superintendent John McNamara said the district was disappointed by the ruling and would “explore all available options.” While Wantagh has planned to eliminate Native American imagery, it has sought to retain the Warriors name, arguing that the term is a general symbol of strength and not inherently Indigenous.
A separate effort to keep the name is also underway in Albany. A bill sponsored by State Sen. Steve Rhoads seeks to exempt Wantagh from the ban, citing the community’s historical connection to Chief Wantagh, a Grand Sachem of the Montaukett tribe. The bill remains under review in the Senate Education Committee.
The federal government is now also weighing in. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Massapequa on May 30 and said her office is reviewing whether the state’s regulation could violate the First Amendment’s free speech protections. McMahon addressed a crowd of residents, school leaders and elected officials, and said she is prepared to raise the issue with the U.S. Department of Justice if necessary.
“We take constitutional concerns seriously and are committed to ensuring that all voices are heard,” McMahon said.
Members of the Shinnecock Nation and other Native advocates have argued that Indigenous people should not be used as mascots, calling the practice demeaning and outdated. Josephine Smith, director of the Shinnecock Cultural Resources Department, has said such symbols reduce Native people to stereotypes.
Wantagh officials have said their actions reflect strong community support. A district survey conducted last summer drew over 900 responses, with more than 88 percent in favor of keeping the Warriors name.
Additional reporting by Carolyn James
