Trustees review new Crossroads and Spring Hill middle school names, logos after months of branding work; procedural dispute over formal naming arises

District Five trustees on Aug. 11 heard presentations from school leaders about proposed names, colors and mascots for two schools undergoing reconfiguration — Crossroads Middle School of Innovation (proposed mascot: Innovators/phoenix; colors: green and yellow) and Spring Hill Middle School (proposed mascot: Red Hawks; colors: blue, red and accent palette). The presentations described multi-month committees of staff, community volunteers and feeder elementary representatives that developed the branding and programming proposals.

Crossroads principal Aaron Doty told the board the school convened a brainstorming committee in February and a branding committee this summer including staff and community members; the group used staff surveys, rubrics and subcommittees on mission/vision, programming and colors/mascot to develop two mascot and color options before reaching consensus on a phoenix-themed Innovators identity. Doty said the school plans a schoolwide design-thinking magnet and an Academy of Inquiry and Innovation starting in 2026–27 for about 50 sixth-grade seats in the magnet track.

Spring Hill principal Stephanie Huckaby described a process that began in February with walking tours and community input. The branding committee emphasized local history — noting a nearby Spring Hill marker — and selected a red-tailed hawk motif and a blue/red color scheme chosen in part because much of the building’s interior is already blue. Huckaby said the logo intentionally includes a reflected hawk in the hawk’s eye as a symbolic message that “they are never flying alone.” She said the next steps are family outreach, mission-and-values development, and an open house.

Why it matters: trustees stressed that naming and branding affect community perception, feeder patterns and possible confusion with existing high school names. Trustee concern focused on whether the board previously voted formally on a school name and whether board policy FF requires a distinct motion to adopt a name. Trustee discussion did not change the branding presentations but centered on process and policy compliance.

Procedure and disagreement: Trustee Huddle (identified in the meeting as a board member) moved to amend the meeting agenda to defer item 8b (the Spring Hill Middle School logo) so the board could follow policy FF if a formal naming vote is required. Other trustees and administration members said the name has been presented across multiple prior actions and exhibits (including an adoption of an updated educational structure and redistricting plan referenced as exhibit L on July 21), and argued the superintendent had followed the naming process outlined under policy FF and the branding committees. Trustees debated whether renaming an existing school versus naming a new school is explicitly covered by policy FF and whether the July 21 motion had been intended to change school names; speakers said the July 21 motion approved the educational structure and redistricting plan “as shown in exhibit L” but did not explicitly say it changed a school name. The amendment to defer failed; the agenda advanced and later the board accepted the branding presentations.

Quotations come from presenters and trustees' remarks made on the record. Superintendent Christopher Ross (referred to in the meeting as doctor Ross) acknowledged mixed concerns and said administration would respond to community confusion if it arises. Neither the board nor the administration finalized a separate formal vote to change a school name during the Aug. 11 public session.

Ending: trustees asked for continued communication with parents and the community as the schools move toward opening and the magnet program timeline; presenters said they would pursue family outreach, finalize mission statements and host open houses. The board did not adopt a separate naming motion at the Aug. 11 meeting.