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Wantagh superintendent: judge dismissed parts of district’s challenge to New York State mascot regulation; board to weigh options
Summary
Superintendent John McNamara told the board the district's legal challenge to a New York State regulation requiring removal of Native American mascots was largely dismissed; the board said it will consider next steps and keep the community informed.
Superintendent John McNamara told the Wantagh Union Free School District Board of Education on April 3 that the district’s legal challenge to New York State’s regulation requiring school districts to move away from Native American mascots was unsuccessful in key respects and that a judge dismissed many aspects of the case.
“Certainly disappointed,” McNamara said, adding that the board will weigh options and keep the community updated in the coming days. He said the board had appealed the state regulation and pursued court review but that last week’s ruling dismissed many claims in the district’s appeal.
Why this matters: the state regulation requires districts using Native American imagery or names to adopt new mascots; the district had pursued a legal challenge and public outreach followed. McNamara did not announce any immediate change to team names or formal next steps at the meeting; he said the board would consider options and update the community.
What the board said: the superintendent characterized the ruling as disappointing and said the board will evaluate possible next steps. No further legal filings or timelines were discussed during the session recorded in the transcript, and McNamara said the board will continue to communicate with the community.
Board members did not vote on a specific action at the meeting regarding the mascot after announcing the court outcome.
