Photo credit – Madison Warren
Last week, right before the Labor Day weekend kicked off, the Connetquot School Board meeting was held at Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School to discuss the ongoing consideration of their mascot name being shortened from “Thunderbirds” to “T-birds.” A controversial topic within the district, parents, alumni, staff members, local Native American tribe members, and even some students attended the meeting, hoping to move closer to a resolution.
A mascot that has been a part of Connetquot’s identity for decades, the “Thunderbirds” originated from Native American mythology and has symbolized a powerful spirit bird. To some of the community, it has long represented strength and pride, but its cultural roots have also placed it at the center of the ongoing debate about Native-themed mascots. This topic of discussion began in 2022, when the New York State Education Department (NYSED) issued a mandate across all districts requiring schools to eliminate Indigenous-related mascots or any other symbols that represent the school.
Connetquot, as one of the districts subject to the state mandate, has been under review for some time, and no final verdict has been reached yet. While some community members argue that the mascot is not directly tied to Native American descendants, others view it as culturally inappropriate. In response, the district proposed shortening the name to “T-Bird” as a compromise.
At the most recent meeting, the board opened the floor to the community members who wished to share their views. Before the session, a district-wide survey was conducted, with 60% of respondents favoring continued efforts to retain the original “Thunderbirds” name rather than accept a change.
Several speakers voiced strong support for keeping the original “Thunderbirds” name, pointing to its deep tradition and sense of school pride. Others raised concerns about the financial impact of a rebranding.
If the mascot were changed, the district would need to replace a wide range of items, including scorers’ tables, cheer equipment, wall pads, scoreboards, sports uniforms, banners, and signage. The estimated cost of these replacements totals $323,470.42, an amount already factored into the 2025–2026 school budget.
In June of this year, the Connetquot School District was granted additional time to comply with the state’s mandate. The extension was partly due to the district’s efforts over the past five years, during which it had already invested nearly $161,000 in replacing equipment and materials that did not carry the Thunderbird name. The district has already spent close to $175,000 since 2020 in phasing out the classic names, logos, merchandise, and branding.
One speaker, Bernadette Johnson, spoke with the majority of people at that board room who want to keep the original name and said, “I don’t even know why this is a discussion. Why the government is making this change to me is totally wrong. We have always been the Thunderbirds, and I feel like we should always stay the Thunderbirds.”
But there was a percentage of people there who felt the opposite of Johnson. One speaker said, “My two kids have gone to Connetquot, who never said Thunderbirds. It was always T-birds. So, as far as that is, it is up to the board to make this decision, so I hope they make the right one.”
The Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) has been actively involved in the mascot debate since it began in 2022, alongside other members of the Native American community who have spoken out on the issue
Two speakers from the Unkechogue land, Lisa and Emily, said, “Now, the Thunderbird, meaning for Native Americans, traditionally represents supernatural power, strength, and protection, and what you have as the imagery is actually a caricature. It is racist. And I find it rich that a community, predominantly white community, is telling people of color and indigenous people what is racist and what is not racist.”
Some members of the community believe the Connetquot Board of Education has been negotiating a settlement with the state behind closed doors. Rather than pursuing its public lawsuit to preserve the “Thunderbirds” name, critics allege the board has been quietly exploring a compromise to rebrand on its own terms. This perception has sparked outrage among residents, who argue that such actions lack transparency and undermine public trust.
Former school board president Jaclyn Napolitano-Furno spoke at the meeting, stating that the board has been involved in corruption.
“Everything I am about to say is verifiable.” Jaclyn said, “What this community needs is transparency and accountability. The people have already spoken in June, when an overwhelming 60.66% of residents voted to continue litigation, to keep the Thunderbird name. Yet from the very beginning, the board has made it clear they do not want the public to decide. They are only now trying to backtrack through this, and it’s damage control at its very best. This is corruption and deception.”
Emails obtained by The Messenger showed then-President Napolitano-Furno’s dissatisfaction with the board’s discussion of the issue with legal counsel outside of a public forum. She repeatedly stressed that the decision should be brought to the public.
Critics now say that last week’s board meeting was hastily organized ahead of the Labor Day weekend to cover the board’s base, in hopes that a majority of the attendants would agree with the district to settle the case with the state.
However, much of the audience was on the side of retaining the classic mascot and imagery. While the board can still vote to settle, it would now be in the face of a meeting that saw significant comments in favor of continuing litigation.
The board may face issues with the state if they fail to comply in some way. One of the board members stated, “If we don’t accept the settlement, the state could say we are not participating in good faith and then they would reject their agreement and would very likely revoke the extension.”
The Messenger also obtained a draft settlement, missing only the signature of the board required to settle the case. The case persists alongside the higher-profile debate over the Massapequa Chiefs.
As the Connetquot community awaits a final verdict, the debate over the Thunderbird mascot continues to highlight the tension between tradition, cultural sensitivity, financial responsibility, and government authority. This has created a divide within the community, but they all share the same passion for wanting the best for their school. While many residents remain steadfast in their desire to preserve a name they see as central to the district’s identity, state regulations place the board in a difficult position that could carry costly consequences if ignored.
Whether the outcome is to keep “Thunderbirds,” settle on “T-Birds,” or rebrand entirely, the decision will leave a lasting mark on the district — not only on its banners and scoreboards, but on the trust between the board and the community it serves.
