GLENDALE : Uniform Policy Goes Into Effect at Third School

For third-grader Andrew Kim, wearing his new school uniform--navy blue trousers and a white polo shirt--makes life just a little easier.

“Now, I don’t need to think about what I’m going to wear and I don’t have to look all around for my clothes,” he said. “Wearing the uniform makes me feel special, too.”

On Monday, Mark Keppel Elementary School became the third school in Glendale and the latest Southland elementary campus to try on voluntary, parochial-style uniforms for size. More than two-thirds of the school’s 1,200 students were joined by several teachers and administrators in wearing the new school garb.

“We have so many different cultures at our school, and this brings all the students together in a way that nothing else can,” said third-grade teacher Lorna Till.

Keppel students come from affluent and lower middle-class neighborhoods. For that reason, administrators said they tried to ensure the uniforms would be affordable to all families. A parent committee chose a line of clothing from Nordstrom that sells for $9 to $21 for each piece.

“For the quality, these uniforms are very competitively priced, but if the parents feel it’s too expensive, we’re encouraging them to buy anything navy blue and white,” said Barbara Duncan, a school administrator.

As at Cerritos Elementary School in southern Glendale and Fremont Elementary School in western Glendale--where students have been wearing uniforms since the fall semester began Sept. 8--Keppel’s uniform program began last year with a parent survey, to which a majority of families responded positively, officials said.

At all three campuses, the style and color of the uniforms were chosen by committees of parents, staff and/or students. The logo on the Keppel uniform, which shows a book and pencil above the school’s name, was designed by sixth-grader Danny Davari in a schoolwide contest.

Cerritos Principal Kim Bishop said school uniforms were brought up during discussions about a new school dress code aimed at prohibiting gang-like attire on campus. Now, she said about 97% of the school’s 450 students wear the voluntary uniforms Monday through Thursday, with a “free dress day” on Friday.

“We had some problems with students who didn’t dress appropriately, but with the kids wearing uniforms we’ve found they come to school looking sharp and ready for learning,” Bishop said. “The teachers have also said they’ve noticed a marked improvement in terms of behavior.”

Even at Fremont, which is the smallest of the Glendale school district’s 19 elementary campuses and is located in one of the city’s poorest areas, about 80% of the students are wearing uniforms.

Glendale school officials said they were inspired by the success of voluntary uniform programs that began last year in Long Beach and the Santa Clarita Valley. Students at George Washington Elementary School in Burbank also began wearing uniforms recently. In the next few years, students at several more Glendale schools are expected to don uniforms under Glendale Schools 2000, a districtwide reform plan.

“It really does instill a sense of pride in the kids,” said Lynne Soule-Maggio, a past PTA president at Keppel and parent of two students. “It’s also much easier to put a uniform on my daughter than fight over what’s she’s going to wear each morning.”