Monday, April 27, 1998 | 9:40 a.m.
Fourth-grader Franky Gutierrez planned to be part of a navy blue and white sea of Fay Herron Elementary School pupils wearing school uniforms today for the first time.
"It's going to be great," the 10-year-old said. "Now if someone says you're ugly, I can say you're ugly -- you've got the same uniform on."
Herron is the 15th school to adopt a voluntary uniform policy in Clark County, and students began wearing their new duds today. District rules dictate that a school can adopt a voluntary school uniform if an overwhelming majority of parents embrace the idea.
That was the case at Herron, where 80 percent of the students are Hispanic. Many recently moved from Mexico, where school uniforms are standard.
"In Mexico, I couldn't go to school without a uniform, so I think they are good," fourth-grader Gerardo Sanchez said.
The issue of school uniforms has been hotly debated in districts nationwide. Advocates argue uniforms eliminate gang regalia and fashion pressure from schools and playgrounds. Opponents say public schools should not dictate what children wear.
Herron principal Tom Hutton said he doesn't believe the arguments in favor of uniforms, but supports parent wishes.
"I don't see clothing on this campus affecting test scores and we're not seeing this as the cause of discipline problems," Hutton said. "But we want parents to believe this is their school. It's not my school."
Outfits of white button-down or polo shirts, and blue shirts, shorts and pants will cost parents about $20 a pair at Herron. Herron parents have set up a student uniform store at the school. They said uniforms are cheaper than brand-name clothes and help eliminate arguments over what's appropriate school wear.
"They watch TV and they see other kids and that's what they want to wear," parent Maria Garcia said.
Next month, the Clark County School Board's policy committee will consider a new regulation that would empower schools to make voluntary uniform policies mandatory.
That would help principals like Jean Jackson at Cahlan Elementary School in North Las Vegas. Three years after school leaders tried to push uniforms as a way to blur the line between the school's "haves and have-nots," only a few students wear uniforms.
"As long as it's optional, students have the option of not wearing it, and that's what they do," Jackson said.
Success with uniform policies varies. As participation has waned at Cahlan, nearly all pupils at Henderson's John C. Vanderburg Elementary still wear uniforms every day, a year and a half after the school opened.
"Everything matches and it's not that hard to get dressed," said Vanderburg third-grader Sam Waller, whose mother Kim was one parent who led the push for uniforms at the school.
"Everybody at school looks the same, it shows school spirit," added Vanderburg third-grader Kristen Meath.
Still even some students who like uniforms admit they would prefer to pick their own clothes.
"It keeps people from teasing you about what you wear," Vanderburg fifth-grader Brianna Kuehling said. "The thing I don't like is it kind of hides your personality. Some of your personality shows in your clothes."
Even Vanderburg student body president Ray Brown admitted his stiff khaki shorts can slow his stride in soccer.
"I play outside a lot and it's kind of hard to play in these," the fifth grader said.
Several school board members said they generally like giving schools the option of developing their own uniform policies. They plan to seek parent input before crafting any district rules on mandatory uniforms.
"The research that I've read shows that school uniforms lead to better student behavior and better student achievement," board member Lois Tarkanian said. "But there's no final conclusion."
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