Wantagh board updates on capital projects, legal fight over 'Warrior' name; approves contracts and donations

The Wantagh Union Free School District Board of Education heard updates on district capital work, recognized a Forest Lake sensory room with a state schools association award and approved a slate of routine contracts and donations at its recent meeting, while Superintendent McNamara said the district is continuing a legal challenge to keep the “Warrior” mascot.

Superintendent McNamara said the district is operating under a one-year extension from the State Education Department that allows it to continue using the Warrior name while the district pursues pending court actions. “Right now, we’re operating under a 1 year extension from the State Education Department to maintain our current mascot,” Superintendent McNamara said. He told the board the district has a federal case under appeal and has also filed a challenge in New York State court; he said the board would update the public as the cases proceed.

The meeting highlighted summer capital work districtwide. McNamara told the board the district renovated the high school cafeteria and serving lines at elementary schools, replaced unit ventilators in every instructional space at the high school and at “Huanta Elementary” (transcript spelling), completed bathroom replacements in 16 classrooms, replaced flooring in about 15 classrooms, installed new cooling towers at two buildings and plans to replace windows and continue HVAC work through the school year. The board also shared schematic drawings for a combined library/media and adjoining Room 15152 at the high school, with construction expected to begin in summer 2026 subject to approvals.

Forest Lake Elementary received an unsolicited Champions of Change Award from the New York State School Boards Association for a sensory room the school created. Principal Burke credited teachers and parents for the space. “It’s a spot for the children to go when they need a place to calm down…an inclusive space for all,” Principal Burke said, noting the room was dedicated as “Sarah’s sensory space.” The district said the association planned to present a banner to the school but the representative could not attend the meeting.

Organizers reported that the second annual Wantagh Warrior Memorial 5K and associated events drew more than 760 registered runners in each of the last two years and brought “well over a thousand people” to the campus on race day. Organizers said scholarships given to seniors from proceeds rose from $2,500 last year to $3,500 this year and that the event supports plans for a memorial on the secondary complex. Several donations tied to the run and other activities were acknowledged during the meeting.

The board approved multiple consent-agenda items and personnel matters by voice vote. Items approved without individual roll-call recorded in the transcript included approval of the minutes, financial reports, and a package of contractual and procurement authorizations listed on the agenda as G1 through G10. The transcript records the board responding to each motion with “Aye.”

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes: Approved (voice vote “Aye”; mover/second not specified in the transcript). - Financial reports: Approved (voice vote “Aye”; mover/second not specified). - Item G1 — Increase in adult school meal prices: Approved; amount not specified in the meeting record. - Item G2 — Budget increase: Approved; amount not specified in the meeting record. - Item G3 — Security alarm services contract: Approved. - Item G4 — Consultant services agreements: Approved. - Item G5 — SENCO bid: Approved. - Item G6 — Transportation contracts: Approved. - Item G7 — Terms of employment: Approved. - Item G8 — Memorandum of Understanding: Approved. - Item G9 — Donations (multiple, detailed below): Approved. - Item G10 — Disposal of obsolete textbooks: Approved. - Approval of committees on special education and preschool special education recommendations: Approved. - Board of Education and Superintendent goals: Approved. - Policy revisions and removal of policies listed on the agenda: Approved. - Personnel items (including retirements and hires listed on the agenda): Approved. - Motion to adjourn: Approved.

Donations acknowledged - Cherrywood Auto: $100 (War Memorial 5K) - John and Laura Purcell: $500 (Memorial Run) - Justino and Associates: $500 (Memorial Run) - MD Hyperbaric of Manassasoit LLC: $5,000 (Wantagh Warrior Memorial 5K) - Wantagh Elementary PTA: $3,550 (Harlem Wizards entertainment and BMX rider) - New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR): $2,181 (uniform cleaning services for athletics) - Tony Dimino Veil: $300 (John Scholarship Fund)

Personnel and recognitions The board recognized retirements and personnel milestones. McNamara noted that Karen Kurge, a recent Wantagh Elementary teacher who had taught fourth grade and, more recently, kindergarten, died during the week; the district extended condolences to her family. The board also recognized Iris Klein, the Wantagh High School social worker, who notified the district she will retire in February after 20 years at the high school, and congratulated Emily Bogart on receiving tenure as a school psychologist at Forest Lake Elementary.

Public comment and facilities question During public comment a resident asked about the status of field lights. The board responded there had been no change: for a handful of night games the district has rented portable lights and will continue to do so for upcoming weeks, but there was no change to the long-term status of permanent field lighting.

What the record does not show Many agenda items were approved under omnibus motions with no mover/second names or recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript; where the transcript did not specify dollar amounts or other details (for example, the G1 price increase and the G2 budget increase), this article reports those items as “not specified” rather than inferring amounts.

The board and district said they will post further details and updates as court activity and project timelines progress.