Long Island School District Faces $23 Million Cost to Remove “Thunderbird” Name
A school district on Long Island anticipates spending $23 million to discontinue the use of the “Thunderbird” team name. This decision comes as they comply with a new state ban on Native American logos and imagery.
Connetquot, known for its baseball team that recently clinched the Suffolk County Championship, is in discussions with New York State. They aim to fully eliminate the name by March of next year, as outlined in documents obtained through correspondence.
“The district has made significant investments in facilities without the Thunderbird name or image,” wrote Principal Joseph Centamore to Dave Frank, vice-chairman of the State Department.
Centamore noted that the expenditures included upgrades to grass fields, gym flooring, and various equipment totaling approximately $23.6 million across the district.
Moreover, Connetquot is expected to allocate an additional $323,470.42 for items like a scorer’s table, cheerleading gear, wall pads, scoreboards, uniforms, and signage.
The district chose not to provide further comments on the matter.
Interestingly, the name “Thunderbird” is also shared with a Canadian Hockey League team located near Seattle, as well as the Air Force Demonstration Team performing at Jones Beach.
Since 2023, the district has faced legal battles regarding Native American-themed names alongside other districts like Massapequa and Onetag. In March, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, though Massapequa has continued its legal fight.
In April, President Trump expressed support for Masapequa, emphasizing the importance of the local administration’s efforts. He directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to explore the situation at a national level.
Despite this support, Centamore’s letter requested an extension beyond the board’s June 30 deadline for compliance with the state’s ban. He pointed out that they’ve been working on rebranding for the last five years and have completed about 75% of the required adjustments.
Recently, the district was granted an additional year to meet compliance standards.
In a related note, Wantagh has set aside a surprising $418,000 for mascot-related projects. According to Principal John C. McNamara, the true cost may approach $700,000 for its 2,850 students spanning grades K-12.
However, McNamara noted in a community letter that the district intends to keep the “Warriors” name. He emphasized the importance of the extension for addressing legal matters and ensuring efficient implementation of changes.
Main Concerns
The ongoing conflict between Massapequa and the Chief Steam is far from over, with McMahon recently pledging federal intervention, framing the ban as a civil rights issue.
Masapequa estimates that if forced to rebrand, it could incur costs around $1 million.
Oliver Roberts, the district’s attorney from Harvard University, has reached out to New York’s Indigenous Mascot Advisory Group, calling for an extension for Massapequa.
In his communication, Roberts urged that the state should postpone the enforcement deadline pending the findings of McMahon’s federal investigation, which falls under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
He further stated that the district cannot legally participate in discriminatory practices against Indigenous peoples and must preserve their cultural identity.
In response, Frank suggested last week that he would consider expanding the names of all ethnic teams, while also addressing federal findings on discrimination and potential involvement from the Department of Justice.
“That’s their workaround… This regulation isn’t a good idea,” commented Masapequa School Board Chairman Kelly Wachter during a rally to support the Chiefs.
“Are we really creating yet another unfunded mandate for districts that are already struggling?” she added, questioning the motivations behind these regulatory changes.
