As for the reds vs. browns part...
Even though the principal is retiring from your school, with red and white school colors...it would be beautiful to take some artistic licence and go in a few different shades of red, sneaking into the "brick" realm versus rah-rah school colors red and use ivories and cream instead of white-white. The feeling is still there, you know? Like a trade-up on the colors, but still an homage to all her hard work.