Uniform option eyed for all schools

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | 10:40 a.m.

Calling a pilot study of mandatory uniforms at five Henderson elementary schools a success, Clark County School District officials want all other campuses to have the option of adopting the policy.

The Clark County School Board is slated to vote Thursday on whether to move ahead with plans to end the pilot study -- launched in August 2002 -- and incorporate a uniform option into the district's standard regulations. The final vote is set for June 17.

The district already has a dress code, which bans items such as naval-baring outfits, spaghetti-strapped shirts and hats. The uniform policy requires students to wear specific styles and colors of clothing.

Supporters of the policy say uniforms make it easier to identify trespassers, reduce disciplinary issues and put children from different socio-economic backgrounds on the same level. Opponents claim there have been no definitive studies showing a link between uniform policies and student achievement.

In a report provided to School Board members, principals at the five participating elementary schools cite higher test scores, fewer disciplinary issues and parent satisfaction as evidence of the uniform policy's success.

"The mandatory uniform policy has enhanced the tone and climate of our school, reduced conflict stemming from socio-economic status, focused students' attention on academics and brought about a sense of school pride," wrote Vanderburg Principal Cathy Maggiore in her report.

What the district considers evidence is nothing more than "anecdotal tales," said Gary Peck, executive director of the Nevada ACLU, whose organization has opposed the uniform policy since the pilot study was first discussed in 2001.

"There is no reliable or valid proof that the uniform policy has in any way produced real, meaningful improvements in the quality of life or student achievement," Peck said. "This is a school district in crisis -- they should be addressing the real facts, such as the dropout rate and disastrous student performance on standardized tests."

Allen Lichtenstein, attorney for the Nevada ACLU, said he believes the district's uniform policy is unconstitutional. The courts have given schools some leeway in establishing dress codes provided the guidelines ban clothes that could be reasonably considered a distraction, Lichtenstein said.

"I'm waiting for the school district to present the verified study that showed students learn better wearing blue shirts than when they wear red shirts," Lichtenstein said.

In order to participate in the pilot study schools needed at least 51 percent of parents to respond to a survey, and of those respondents at least 70 percent had to be in favor of a uniform policy. The School Board then voted on whether or not to add the campus to the pilot study.

Under the new regulation schools would still have to meet the same survey standards but a School Board vote would no longer be required. Agustin Orci, deputy superintendent of instruction for the district, said the School Board would be notified of every school that planned to adopt the policy and campuses would have to present a status report at the end of the first year.

Each of the schools in the pilot study sells uniforms through their school stores. PTA groups have also organized clothing closets where parents can exchange outgrown outfits for used replacements at a cost of $1 per item.

Clark County School Board President Susan Brager-Wellman said she has struggled with the uniform policy.

"I love the way the uniforms look and I do believe there are some great benefits," Brager-Wellman said. "But I have a real problem with putting in the word 'mandatory' when we're talking about public schools."

Provided no students are disciplined for not wearing the uniforms Brager-Wellman said she would probably support the policy.

"As long as the parents are still involved in the decision, I think we should give individual school communities the right to decide something like this for themselves," Brager-Wellman said.

Lamping, Twitchell and Vanderburg elementary schools were the initial campuses in the pilot study. Sewell and Marlan Walker elementary schools were added in August. Four additional elementary schools in the district's southeast region -- Bennett, Harmon, Hummel and Glen Taylor -- have received the necessary parental support to adopt the uniform policy for the 2004-05 academic year.

The positive survey responses ranged from 74 percent at Hummel to 85 percent at Taylor. Three other campuses -- Brown Middle School, McDoniel Elementary School and Laughlin High School -- felt short.

Linda Goodman, principal of McDoniel, said she was disappointed only 68 percent of her school's families who responded to the survey supported the idea of mandatory school uniforms.

"We've been trying to do this for two years and for two years we've missed the mark by two points," Goodman said. "I want to do what our parents want to do, but I also believe there are many benefits to the uniforms. We have a voluntary uniform policy but it doesn't work as well. At kindergarten participation is 80 percent and by fifth grade it's down to zero."

Jamie Stevens, president of the Sewell PTA, said she was initially opposed to her children's school joining the pilot study. But Stevens said she has since changed her mind.

"I thought it would take away their individuality," Stevens said. "Now I think it's made a lot of positive changes at Sewell. The kids have better attitudes and look neater."

Stevens' son, Adam, said he's actually going to miss his uniform when he moves up to the sixth grade at Brown Middle School in August.

"At first it was hard to get used to but it got easier," Adam said. "Everybody matches up now so kids don't get teased because they're not wearing something cool."

Heather Rikalo, who has two children at Sewell, said she was surprised at how affordable the uniforms turned out to be.

"One outfit costs $12," Rikalo said. "I haven't had to buy my kids new clothes since the beginning of the year."

Trevor Rikalo, a fourth grader, said the uniforms have made his school a friendlier place.

"It feels like I'm someone important to the school and I belong there," Rikalo said. "It's kind of like a team uniform and the principal is our coach."

Not everyone is in a favor of the policy. Lona Finley, whose son is in fourth grade at Taylor, said she is determined to keep the policy from passing.

"I want my children to feel like they can be individuals and not be the same as everyone else," Finley said. "Many of the reasons they give for doing this aren't backed up by fact. It's almost like the district is claiming the sun shines better when kids are in uniforms."

The district's existing regulation for the pilot study required that parents be notified of a final decision prior to the end of the school year. But Taylor, a which runs on a modified nine-month calendar, finishes its school year June 17 --the same day as the second School Board vote, Finley said.

"They do not have enough time to notify parents and implement the policy for next year," Finley said.