OCEANSIDE – The Oceanside Unified School District has unveiled a new logo, removing the image of the lighthouse for a simple letter “O” with varying shades of blue and a touch of yellow.

In July, the school board approved work on a new logo to replace the current one, which features a lighthouse that shines above the district’s name. The board hired Alpha Graphics, an Oceanside-based graphic design company, which also partnered with Try J Advertising to create the new logo.

The school district has sent out surveys to its families asking for their opinion on what they would like to see in a new logo. Communications director Donald Bendz said he had received 120 responses.

“A lot of people have spoken about the diversity of the district and the importance of being a coastal community,” Bendz said at the Dec. 14 board meeting.

Bendz also noted that many attendees wanted to move away from the symbolism of the lighthouse and find something new to represent the neighborhood.

A 10-person committee was then formed with two high school students, five staff and three community members to guide the design team on the new logo. The two met several times before the design team presented five final options to the committee, which voted on their top three choices for the board to consider.

Of the three options, the board voted unanimously for the first option, which features an “O” made up of what appear to be waves with varying shades of blue and a hint of yellow. Although left to the imagination, a common interpretation of this O symbol recognizes waves, sky and sun in yellow. The name of the school district is then presented under the O.

“What’s great about this option is that it allows each viewer to have their own experience and interpretation of what they are seeing,” Bendz said.

The design team had considered using the Oceanside Pier in the new logo, but the committee determined that it was not a strong enough symbol for the school district. The committee and design team also wanted to avoid including the symbol for a structure that is not managed by the district, Bendz noted.

The second logo option considered was almost identical to the first option, except that the O symbol only had different shades of blue and not yellow, and the third option was the full district name with a similar O symbol design replacing it. the O at Oceanside.

Administrator Raquel Alvarez, newly elected vice-chair of the board, said she preferred the first option because of how its color scheme showcases the diversity of the district. She also liked how the waves of the O symbol recognize the neighborhood as a coastal community.

Fellow fiduciary Eric Joyce thought that the contrasting colors of the first option would look better on stickers, clothing and any other item that would be used to promote the district with the new logo, although he would have preferred even more colors. daring.

For administrator Eleanor Evans, the first option is the most symbolic of all. She saw the yellow as sand and noticed the appearance of a seagull flying above the waves in the symbol.

“I want to see our students fly high like the seagull and eliminate the brain drain that is happening,” she said.

Evans also said that the circular shape of the O represents the inclusiveness of the district.

Newly elected council clerk Mike Blessing said he originally preferred the third option, but was ready to support the first given its popularity.

“I can’t wait to see him behind me in my Zoom,” said director Stacy Begin, who was re-elected to lead the board as president for another year at the same meeting.

The new logo has already taken over the neighborhood’s website.