Students lead refreshed district logo; board praises process and votes to move forward

Director of Information and Public Relations Shannon Villadelet and a CAPS student team presented a refreshed district logo to the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Board on Dec. 15. The design process involved students from multiple strands (business, marketing, art, science and English) working with freelance designer Nathan Chow and district communications staff.

Student ambassadors described a multi-step process that began in October with student analysis of the current logo, selection of shapes and colors to represent district values, iterative reviews of design concepts and testing of final versions at different sizes and on branded materials. One student said the chosen concept illustrates that "any student can become who they want to," and student presenters noted the new design keeps elements of the existing logo (star and pillars) while refreshing type, color and arrangement to emphasize the district’s core values: empower, engage and evolve.

Villadelet said elementary logos were updated last year, and the district used student vote to update those identities; the current work extends that student‑voice process to middle schools and the district mark. She said, if approved, the rollout would be gradual: updated headers, calendars and materials would be phased in, with initial use expected immediately following board approval.

Board members praised the process and the students’ professionalism, asked to see alternate concepts that had been considered, and discussed the difference between a full rebrand and a refreshed mark. The presentation team emphasized that this is a refresh, not a complete rebrand, and said student voice guided the final selection. No detailed cost figures for rollout were provided at the presentation; communications staff said they would proceed with implementation pending board approval.