Wantagh HS 'Warriors' Nickname 'Not In Violation': School Board Of Ed

WANTAGH, NY — With a new ban by the state to eliminate all indigenous names, mascots and logos at schools, the Wantagh Board of Education remains steadfast in its thinking.

The Wantagh High School "Warriors" imagery will be removed, as "we do not want to offend anyone with our logo," the board said.

But changing its nickname is where the Wantagh educators differ from the state.

"We firmly believe that the district’s Warrior name is not in violation of the new regulation that was established by the Board of Regents," they wrote in a statement on May 5.

That regulation, according to Wantagh schools, says, in part:

"Indigenous name, logo, or mascot" means a name, symbol, or image that depicts
or refers to Indigenous persons, tribes, nations, individuals, customs, symbols, or
traditions, including actual or stereotypical aspects of Indigenous cultures

Using that terminology, Wantagh wants to keep the Warrior name but "rebrand" it with input from students, district staff and the community.

"We fully understand the removal of other names that fall within the regulations definition and include actual or stereotypical aspects of Indigenous cultures. However, Warrior does not fit into that category. We continue to hear the term," the Wantagh Board of Education said.

Additionally, Wantagh said considering the "Warriors" as a vestige of something that no longer exists from indigenous peoples' past, and making it a reason for the name change, "does not appear anywhere in the new regulation," the Board wrote.

The regulation does not state that a name that is a vestige of former indigenous imagery that falls into that category must be removed as well," the Board added.

Another reason Wantagh wants to keep the Warrior name — money. The school district estimates changing both the logo and name will cost more than $600,000.

The Wantagh Board of Education has "retained outside legal counsel and initiated discussions

around legal options should the New York State Department of Education take issue with the district’s plan."