ALBANY, NY - Senator Steve Rhoads, a proud Wantagh native and graduate of Wantagh High School, is celebrating a significant bipartisan breakthrough in the State Senate Education Committee, where his legislation, S.717, advancing protections for the Wantagh Union Free School District, passed earlier this month by an 8–7 vote with support from both sides of the aisle.

The bill, formally known as the Wantagh Mascot Bill (S.717), would exempt the Wantagh Union Free School District from certain state-level rules and regulations governing the use of indigenous names, mascots, and logos, allowing the district to preserve the historic “Warriors” identity rooted in the legacy of Chief Wantagh and the community’s founding history.

The committee vote reflected meaningful bipartisan support, with three Democratic senators joining five Republican senators in advancing the measure after Senator Rhoads answered questions and presented the bill’s historical foundation. The outcome underscores Senator Rhoads’ ability to build consensus and work across the aisle on issues of local importance.

Following its passage out of the Education Committee, the legislation was referred to the Investigations and Government Operations Committee, chaired by Senator James Skoufis.

“This vote demonstrates what we’ve said from the beginning: this is not a partisan issue, it is a community issue grounded in history, education, and local identity,” said Senator Rhoads. “I am pleased to see S.717 move forward with bipartisan support after a thorough and fair committee process. The Senate has now done its job in the Education Committee. I am calling on Senator Skoufis to put this bill on his committee’s agenda without delay and move it to the floor so the full Senate can act.”

S.717 is rooted in the unique history of Wantagh. The community traces its name to Chief Wantagh, Sachem of the Meroke tribe and Grand Sachem of the Montaukett tribe, who in 1657 signed a land compact resolving territorial disputes that shaped the region’s early settlement. That legacy was later honored when the community adopted the Wantagh name in 1891, and it has since been preserved through historical markers and local education initiatives.

Since the establishment of Wantagh High School in 1956, the “Wantagh Warriors” name and longstanding imagery have served as a unifying symbol for nearly 70 years, reflecting local heritage and community pride. The district also incorporated the history of Chief Wantagh into its curriculum in 1966, ensuring students understand the origins and meaning of their community’s identity.

Despite those longstanding historical ties, overreaching statewide policies restricting indigenous names and mascots have placed the district in conflict with state education regulations. While the district is voluntarily retiring its mascot imagery, it has sought to retain and rebrand the “Warriors” name—an effort Senator Rhoads argues is consistent with both cultural respect and educational integrity, and consistent with how similarly situated districts in other parts of New York have been treated. 

“This legislation is about preserving a truthful, respectful acknowledgment of local history—not erasing it,” Rhoads added. “Wantagh’s story is one of peace, settlement, and identity. That should be recognized, not discarded.”

Senator Rhoads is urging immediate action in the Senate’s Investigations and Government Operations Committee to ensure S.717 advances promptly to the full floor for consideration. He also encourages Wantagh residents to make their voices heard in support of the legislation by contacting Senator Skoufis’ office at (845) 567-1270 or emailing skoufis@nysenate.gov

“Once a Warrior, always a Warrior—that’s not just a saying in Wantagh, it’s a way of life. I carry that same spirit with me into Albany every day. In this fight, I will continue to stand tall, stay strong, and push forward for our community until S.717 becomes law. The Warriors don’t back down, and neither will I,” said Senator Rhoads.