FULLERTON : Voluntary School Uniform Plan OKd

The Fullerton School District Board of Trustees gave tentative approval this week to begin voluntary uniform programs at seven elementary schools next fall.

Under the plan, which is strongly supported by parents, uniforms would become optional for students at Commonwealth, Laguna Road, Raymond, Richman, Rolling Hills, Sunset Lane and Valencia Park elementary schools.

Konnie Gault, the district’s community liaison, said the policy is based on polls and discussions involving principals, parents and teachers that indicated substantial support for a voluntary uniform program.

Most principals said they would encourage pupils to wear dark pants or skirts and light shirts. Gault said the principals will now find out how much the uniforms cost and will return to the board’s meeting next month for final approval of a policy.

District officials initially thought that uniforms would make schools safer because students could not wear gang-style clothing to school that might make them victims of violence. But Michael said many parents voiced other reasons for uniforms.

“If kids are dressed neater, then they’re going to behave neater,” one parent told her. Others welcomed the opportunity to spend less money on trendy clothes for their children, Michael said.