Brentwood board defends 'Spartans' selection after NAACP challenge; state denies immediate stay

The Brentwood Union Free School District said it will continue preparing to implement the 'Spartans' mascot after the state Education Department denied a petition that would have halted the rollout while the underlying challenge proceeds.

Counsel Candace told the board and the public that the petition filed by resident Bill Moss asking for a stay — an injunction to pause district activity — was denied "just a couple of days ago," and that the Office of Counsel at the State Education Department sent a written decision to the petitioner and to the district's attorney. "The district has won the first round," Candace said, adding that there is "no legal determination" yet on the merits of the larger challenge.

Members of the Islip–Smithtown NAACP and other residents urged the board to rescind its decision to adopt the Spartans name, arguing the choice still relies on ethnic or group-based imagery. Ken Johnson read a local NAACP resolution demanding the board rescind the November decision and "revisit the process" with public hearings so the community can be heard. "We will conduct direct action against the Spartan name, team name, logo and mascot until the selection of the same is rescinded," Johnson said while reading the resolution.

Resident Bill Moss, who filed the petition, criticized the district's selection process and said the survey that produced the Spartans result did not amount to a community vote. "The survey results were not conclusive...Instead of looking at 22% as that was a mandate, it should have went to a runoff between the top two choices," Moss said.

Counsel and board representatives said the district's actions reflect a community-driven process and a state requirement to change the local mascot by the end of the school year. Candace explained the district faces practical constraints: production and procurement of uniforms, equipment and other materials take time, and waiting for a final decision by the commissioner — which could take months — could leave students without needed items. "If we were to wait for the commissioner's decision, which could take more than six months, there is no way that the district would be prepared to move into the next school year," Candace said.

When asked whether materials had already been ordered with the Spartans logo, counsel said she could not speak to purchases and that procurement decisions were still being made. The board also said it has posted survey results and will continue to provide information to the public.

The legal challenge remains pending before the State Education Department. Counsel and board members said the denied stay does not end the dispute and that the commissioner will ultimately decide the broader case. The board did not announce any reversal or formal change to procurement plans during the meeting.

The board meeting included multiple public comments on the issue and concluded with routine agenda votes; no further formal votes on the mascot issue were taken at the session.