Principal softens stance on student uniforms

Monday, Dec. 8, 2003 | 10:43 a.m.

Faced with criticism and concerns from parents and students, Coronado High School Principal Monte Bay may be backing away from his enthusiastic endorsement of a "standard school wardrobe" for the 2004-05 academic year.

Although Bay and other school officials had stopped short of calling the proposed policy a uniform, the proposal would have limited student attire to a handful of approved styles and color choices. The new Liberty High School, also in Henderson, has a similar requirement already in place.

Bay said Friday he has been having second thoughts about the plan after reading several studies that compared the effects of dress codes on student performance. What he found, Bay said, was underwhelming.

"There's conflicting research," Bay said. "What I'm finding is that only when (dress codes) are done in conjunction with many other factors does it show a difference in attendance and academics."

Bay said he's waiting for the results of survey of parents -- to be conducted next month -- as well as more input from students and staff before making a final decision on whether the policy change will move ahead. At a recent meeting of the school's parent advisory committee there was a full spectrum of opinions, ranging from those who thought the existing district dress code was sufficient to those who wanted to limit approved attire to a minimum of choices, Bay said.

"I don't want this to be me saying 'This is the way it's going to be," Bay said. "I want this to come from a consensus of the school community as a whole."

Adam Grafiada, a Coronado senior and student body president, praised Bay for considering other viewpoints. The school has been debating the issue for several years, Grafiada said.

After a visit to Liberty, Grafiada said he was impressed by the effect the school wardrobe had on the campus atmosphere.

"As far as the learning environment goes, you want to keep (attire) modest and not distracting," Grafiada said. "I can also see how it would boost school spirit, to have everyone wearing the same colors."

But, Grafiada said, as a senior he believes his opinion about school wardrobes shouldn't carry more weight than the opinions of the underclassmen who will come after he graduates in June.

"Those are the kids and the parents who are going to be affected by it," Grafiada said.

At Green Valley High School, where administrators are also considering implementing a standard wardrobe, Principal Jeff Horn said he's also gathering input from parents and students.

"We're trying to decide how conservative and restrictive as a community we're going to make this," said Horn. "This is about what direction we want to take as a school."

Horn began the academic year with a crackdown on violations of the existing dress code violations, such as facial piercings, midriff-baring tops and baggy pants. The number of students cited for improper attire has dropped significantly over the last few months, Horn said.

"Part of that could be the cold weather and kids are just covering up a bit more," Horn said with a laugh. "But I hope part of it is because they are recognizing that there are rules and they need to respect that."

Five Henderson elementary schools are also participating in a pilot study and are requiring students to wear uniforms. District regulations require schools interested in adopting uniforms to have a favorable parental survey and Clark County School Board vote. Because Liberty has a "school wardrobe" and not a "uniform," the district regulations did not apply, said Edward Goldman, superintendent of the district's southeast region.

Neither Coronado nor Green Valley would need the board approval to adopt school wardrobes, Goldman said, While Bay and Horn were being sensible in seeking community input the final decision rests with the administrators, Goldman said.

"As educators we're charged with making decisions in the best interests of our students," Goldman said. "Kids don't get to vote on whether they should have homework or not, or whether or not they can come to school in a swimsuit."