Consultants show branding options to Huntington Co Com Sch Corp; board debates monogram, mascots and rollout timing

Consultants presented draft branding materials intended to give Huntington Co Com Sch Corp a consistent visual identity and tools to help the district "tell the community" what it does and to attract students and families.

Doctor David Chambers, a lead consultant on the project, told the board the effort is not about "pretty pictures" but about showing that "Huntington County Community Schools is the place to be." He said the team developed a brand story built around the idea that "strong students make a strong community." The presentation included preliminary logo sketches, athletic marks and mascot concepts, plus a six‑color palette and examples of how the identities might appear on apparel and signs.

Board members asked for clear decisions on several recurring issues. A central debate focused on whether the district should standardize on a single "H" monogram or a two‑letter "HN" mark for high‑visibility uses such as the center of athletic fields. One director said the simpler block "H" reads the same from either side of a gym or field; others warned it could be confused with other local monograms. Several members pressed the consultants for a firm recommendation because web and signage work are imminent.

Members also criticized one Salamonie mascot option as not representing the southern part of the county; stakeholders told the board they do not want a "cowboy hat" motif. Consultants said principals and stakeholder groups had been consulted and that some schools had settled on mascots (Roanoke on a bulldog), while other schools asked for more iterations.

On rollout, the consultants emphasized a staged, pragmatic approach. They proposed vendor outreach and transition grace periods so schools and vendors could exhaust existing uniforms and templates rather than replace them immediately. They also recommended providing accessible templates (the team cited using Canva) to let non‑design staff create materials consistent with the new palette.

Staff warned the board that finalized brand assets (colors, logos, mascots, favicons) are needed shortly to meet a planned website launch window: "the district needs finalized branding assets later this month in order to move forward and have it done by January," a staff member said. Board members asked for time to collect further stakeholder feedback; consultants asked directors to provide specific input in the coming weeks so the team can narrow options ahead of web and field graphics work.

The work session closed the branding discussion with the consultants asking for additional input; the board will revisit the proposals as staff prepares implementation materials for upcoming meetings.