Connetquot board approves settlement that allows use of “T Birds,” ending district’s suit against state

The Connetquot Central School District Board of Education voted to accept a settlement agreement that, as written in the motion on the consent agenda, allows the district to retain the nickname “T Birds” while settling the district's claim in the lawsuit.

The vote came after more than an hour of public comment and trustee discussion about history, community sentiment and legal risk. New York State Senator Alexis White urged the board to keep the Thunderbird identity and said she had introduced state legislation to preserve the name. "I'm here tonight to speak in support of keeping the name of the t birds and maintaining the mascot," White said during the public-comment portion. Suffolk County Legislator Trish Bergen told the board she did not want taxpayer money spent on prolonged litigation: "This litigation is…