Connetquot board hears community split as district continues appeal over 'Thunderbirds' mascot

The Connetquot Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday reviewed community feedback on the district mascot and discussed ongoing litigation after a federal judge dismissed the district’s initial lawsuit and the district’s attorneys filed notice of intent to appeal.

The superintendent presented survey results and emails showing a majority of respondents favored continuing litigation to retain the Thunderbirds name and imagery. Board members and residents disputed how the results should be interpreted and whether the district should accept a negotiated settlement or continue to pursue appeals.

“The survey was posted June 16 with a response period through June 23,” Superintendent Dr. Sinemore said, and read the tabulated results: “Based upon 2,229 responses, roughly 60.66% stated that they were in favor of the district continuing litigation to retain the Thunderbirds name and imagery.” He added that roughly 75.37% supported changing the mascot to “Thunder” if a change became necessary and that more than 240 emails had been received since June 12.

Board attorney Doug Spencer summarized the legal posture: the state revised regulations addressing names and symbols considered derogatory to Indigenous peoples, districts were given deadlines to comply, the district’s federal suit was dismissed, and “your attorneys have filed notice with the court of their intent to appeal,” though the appeal had not yet been perfected. Spencer told the board the district obtained an extension to comply with the state regulations that would run into early 2026.

Trustee Jackie D’Orenzo and other trustees pressed for transparency in communications and for allowing the litigation to run its course. “I don’t want to change a single feather of our mascot until all options are exhausted,” D’Orenzo said. Resident speakers and trustees alternately urged a community-driven process if a change becomes unavoidable, and several trustees urged a public committee and wider, clearly gated outreach rather than relying solely on the online survey.

Trustees also debated the survey’s methodology and integrity. Trustee April Iannatelli said she worried about how the online survey handled duplicate responses and device-based counts and asked that future outreach be more strictly controlled and widely publicized. Trustee Sarah Parisi emphasized that email submissions — which the district clerk printed for trustees — provide a different form of record than the online poll and cited those emails showing support for continuing legal action.

No board vote was taken on settlement or changing the mascot during the meeting. Board members said they will keep the district email and survey open, continue discussions with legal counsel, and seek further community engagement before taking any binding action.

The board will continue to receive input via the mascot email address and will report back to the community as legal and negotiation developments occur.