Rebranding of North Hills School District moves forward

The rebranding of North Hills School District — complete with a new advertising design — took another step forward on March 2 as the school board got their first look.

The next step is voting to approve the branding.

High school seniors from the A.W. Beattie Career Center, which draws from nine northern Allegheny County school districts, including North Hills, presented a series of designs they’ve been working on for months.

The need for change came last fall when the North Hills School Board voted to stop using a Native American Chief logo but keep the name “Indians” for the district’s athletic teams.

The Indian emblem had been in place in some form in the area since 1939, when the former West View High School first used it in its yearbook. In recent years, however, as with high schools around the country, consideration was given to dropping the logo, especially with so many Native Americans opposed to the use of such mascots.

Beattie students Mia Burnett from Avonworth, Primrose Sobeck from Northgate, and Nicholas Schultz of North Hills presented their work in a variety of designs and fonts. The school board came away impressed.

“I thought it was great,” board member Phil Little said. “We’re giving the power to the students to help make the change and develop it. This school is here for students. Why not give them the ability to have that voice?”

One design spelled out “Indians” in crisp red script on a white helmet, and in white above a red jersey with black trim over white numbers.

The board indicated there could be a final decision in June.

The presentation was also a dress rehearsal before advertising design instructor Heather Brown takes her students to state competition in Hershey in April, where they have won consistently since 2018. They are also hoping for a return trip to the national competition. They have found success at the national level as well, winning or placing in three of the last four national conferences.

“If the board collectively decides ‘let’s tweak it,’ they’ll make (those changes),” said Heather Pelat, the district’s director of communications. “Had we gone the route of a graphic designer we have to probably pay a hefty price tag and all the revision prices.”

Little said it’s not as important what the logo looks like as it is having students put it together.

“We didn’t outsource. We had students have that say in what it looked like in the graphic. It’s their sweat equity now there, and that’s our branding for the North Hills,” he said.