Crystal Lake South looking to replace the Gator

Crystal Lake High School is asking the community to come up with ideas for a new logo that will represent the school and its students for the next generation.

The school is hosting a logo design contest to replace the Gator head logo that the University of Florida — which created it — asked the school to stop using.

The deadline for the contest, which is open to all students, staff, families, alumni and other members of the community, is March 1.

“The idea is to engage the students and have them involved in some of the decision making,” Crystal Lake High School District 155 spokesman Jeff Puma said. “We opened it up to the community because Crystal Lake is a tight knit area that is invested in the school even if they aren’t students. We wanted to cast a wide net.”

Crystal Lake South Principal Marsha Potthoff said the new logo should translate to areas beyond the basketball court.

“We are looking for something that represents all aspects of the school, not just athletics,” Potthoff said. “We want something that is classic that will remain a symbol for many years to come. It should appropriate for apparel or the school letterhead, something that represents our spirit.”

According to the official contest rules, initial entries will be voted on by the Crystal Lake South student body. A selection committee appointed by the District 155 administration will consider the logo finalists and make a recommendation to the school board. The selection committee or District 155 will make the final decision.

Last fall, the University of Florida sent the high school a cease and desist letter informing the school that it was infringing on the university’s trademark.

The two institutions have agreed on a phaseout plan that will allow the high school to gradually remove the Gator head over the next decade. Puma said the logo has already been removed from the school’s website, as well as e-mail signatures. In cases where the items are replaced on an annual basis such as the school letterhead and student IDs, Puma said the logo would be replaced before the start of the 2011-2012 school year.

Contest information and submission forms are available on the school district’s website, d155.org/cls.