Controversy at Connetquot School Board Meeting
A recent meeting of the Connetquot school board sparked controversy when one trustee accused a fellow member of attempting to make a covert deal regarding the name change of the Thunderbirds team. The accuser claimed the other trustee was withholding crucial information from the public.
During a July meeting on Long Island, board member Jaclyn DiLorenzo expressed her shock, stating, “In my two years of service, I have never witnessed such blatant corruption carried out to serve a personal and self-interested agenda.”
She continued, emphasizing the importance of allowing future generations to make their own decisions: “We cannot make irreversible decisions that can strip us of future committees and future generations of their rights to decide our own path.”
The district is facing backlash due to a statewide ban on Native American mascots and logos enacted in 2023, which has led to legal battles alongside other Long Island districts. Schools that do not adhere to this ban risk losing state funding and can face the removal of board members.
Recently, however, the Connetquot district communicated to the state’s education department that it had set aside at least $23 million for a logo change since around 2020.
In late June, the board proposed a compromise to shorten ‘Thunderbirds’ to ‘T-Birds,’ a name already in use. This decision was made days before an ongoing federal investigation was announced by Education Commissioner Linda McMahon, who raised concerns that this could potentially violate Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act.
Former trustee Jaquelyn Napolitano-Furno, who stepped down this month, expressed her outrage at the deal, noting that T-Birds was previously deemed an unacceptable option. “The Mascot Gate is rolling out at Connetquot Court as the school board has decided to ignore the will of the people,” she commented.
Napolitano-Furno voiced her frustration, saying, “[T-Birds] was considered derogatory and now it’s acceptable?”
DiLorenzo also pointed to survey results indicating the community’s desire to continue fighting the issue, underscoring the lack of transparency from the board last month regarding the multiple-million-dollar decision. She believes the board’s motivations are focused on protecting certain board members.
At the end of June, Napolitano-Furno referenced one survey showing 60% of residents favored continuing the legal battle over the Thunderbirds name. “The board ignored the rest of the investigation proposals…they had no intention of respecting the input unless it aligned with their agenda,” she added.
Napolitano-Furno, who remains a plaintiff in the lawsuit regarding the Thunderbirds name, mentioned feeling pressured by the board concerning her case to push the T-Bird compromise forward. “Even during my daughter’s graduation, the pressure didn’t relent,” DiLorenzo said, revealing her stance in support of maintaining the Thunderbirds name.
During the July meeting, Napolitano-Furno learned about an emergency session held in June to approve a contract that was outside the agreed scope, contingent on her changing her stance.
Attorney Oliver Roberts, representing Napolitano-Furno, characterized the situation as “dishonorable and sad,” highlighting the board’s alleged violation of Title VI.
DiLorenzo, who has fought hard to disclose the results of the investigation, firmly believes public involvement is vital. “If change is inevitable, it should be done with full community involvement,” she remarked, insisting it shouldn’t happen through covert dealings.
