Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : School’s Uniform Rule May Start a New Trend : Education: La Mesa Junior High’s new policy has generated interest as two other districts plan to discuss similar ideas.

La Mesa Junior High School may have launched a clothing trend with its new mandatory uniform program.

The William S. Hart High School District became the first in the Santa Clarita Valley to impose a uniform code when it decided this month that La Mesa students would be limited to certain types of clothing incorporating the school colors of black, white and teal.

But now, two other school districts are discussing similar policies. Castaic Union School District trustees on Thursday discussed options for a uniform policy in their rural district in the northern region of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Trustees raised the issue after hearing about the Hart district’s decision and will be watching the policy’s success or failure at La Mesa, according to Supt. Scott Brown.

“We will look at our neighbor who is farther down the path to lead the way,” Brown said. “Our board is an awful long way away from even raising the question.”

Brown said any decision to require uniforms would not take effect until the 1995-96 school year.

Uniform advocates say academic performance improves and peer pressure is reduced when clothing is regulated. The policy may also save money for parents as they dispense with buying trendy, expensive clothes for their children.

Critics say uniforms stifle individuality.

Last week, board members of the Newhall School District reviewed a survey of about 1,000 parents that showed three out of four favor a uniform policy.

Newhall officials had been assembling a comprehensive dress code for the district during the past eight months, with scant mention of mandatory uniforms until La Mesa’s program was adopted.

“All of a sudden there was a focus on what had been a side issue,” Supt. J. Michael McGrath said.

Newhall officials are now reviewing the survey for specific comments about uniforms and will probably continue discussions through the beginning of the upcoming school year, McGrath said. Additional surveys with more specific questions will probably be sent to parents this fall.

“If uniforms are going to be the thing of the day, elementary school is the place to start,” McGrath said.