TheWantaghSchool District has been granted an additional one-year extension to comply with the state Education Department’s ban on Native American mascots,depictions and names, pushing the deadline to June 30, 2027.
The district previously received an extension inJune 2025, pushing its deadline to June 30 of this year.
The district’s board of education sent a letter to the community on Tuesday, Feb. 10, saying it was pleased with the additional extension.
“This ensures that our students will continue to compete and learn under the Warrior name for the upcoming academic years while we continue our advocacy,” the letter said.
The state Board of Regents unanimously voted in April 2023 to ban the use of Native American mascots, team names, logos and depictions. Schools were originally tasked with establishing a new mascot by the end of the 2022-23 school year, but this was later changed to June 2025.
The Wantagh School District, alongside three other school districts, filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s policy. In March 2025, a federal judge ruled in favor of the state’s Board of Regents anddismissed the suit.
The school districts involved were Connetquot, Massapequa, Wantagh and Wyandanch.
The judge said the districts failed to provide enough evidence and that they “lack capacity” to sue under the 14th Amendment and other acts.
The district, which operates with the name “Warriors,” has said it is committed to finding a way to keep its name.
The district is currently pursuing a multi-pronged legal strategy to challenge the mandate, including litigating a case in state court and pursuing a federal appeal of the state’s action, according to the letter.
Source: LI Press
