The wolf has replaced the phoenix as the American Canyon High School mascot, after a decision at Thursday evening’s meeting of the Napa Valley Unified School District board of trustees.

The change follows concerns about the phoenix’s similarity to a bird-like symbol that police say is adopted by gangs.

Mark Brewer, the principal of the high school that will open its doors next fall, told the school board Thursday that replacing the phoenix was a must, even though there were “great intentions” surrounding earlier plans.

“This is something you want to get right. (It) is forever,” he said, adding that final decisions about the school’s mascot and colors will help to set the culture and tone of the campus.

Brewer noted that American Canyon Police Chief Brian Banducci recently said he approved of the school’s new mascot and colors, putting any fears about both to rest.

Students voted for the wolf over two other options, the golden eagle and the falcon. Input from current ninth-graders at Vintage High School and students at American Canyon Middle School, who will be the first to enroll at the school, was factored into the decision.

Renditions of the mascot will appear in the school’s gym, on the aquatic center’s building face, the soccer field and other areas, Don Evans, the district’s director of school planning and construction, said.

Architect Mark Quattrocchi, who designed the new campus, is donating one of his staff artists’ time to create the newest rendition of the mascot. The mascot is still in the design phase, according to Brewer.

As for the high school’s colors, gold — also part of the color schemes at Napa and Vintage high schools — is here to stay. Black, however, is replacing emerald green as the American Canyon High’s other primary color. Green and white will be used as accent colors at the school, Brewer said.

District Trustee Jose Hurtado moved to approve the color and mascot revisions on Thursday, and support was unanimous.

Brewer said the new campus is being billed as a “21st century high school” that will feature cutting-edge technology and a diverse curriculum.

Forgoing the traditional idea of having separate booster clubs for each sport at the school, he added, parents and supporters are forming a single, school-wide booster organization to financially support music, drama, athletics, activities, clubs and academics.