Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Newhall School Board to Consider Uniform Policy : Education: Panel is scheduled to discuss voluntary program, but the emphasis may shift to a mandatory plan.

The Newhall School District Board of Trustees is scheduled to consider a voluntary student uniform program tonight, but some school administrators predict the board will recommend drafting a mandatory policy instead.

The district would be the second in Santa Clarita to adopt school uniforms, a concept gaining popularity in many areas statewide. The proposed policy would allow any of the district’s six elementary schools to make uniforms an option for students.

Supt. J. Michael McGrath said the order to draft the proposal was made before the state passed a law earlier this year allowing schools to require uniforms for students.

“If I read the board right I think they would be far more interested in a mandatory uniform policy,” he added.

A survey of more than 1,000 parents in the district indicates 74% favor uniforms, with 26% opposed, McGrath said.

Proponents of school uniforms say they focus children’s attention on the classroom rather than fashion, make it easier to spot outsiders on campus and reduce campus violence by eliminating gang-type clothing.

But optional uniforms would cancel out many of those benefits since some students would not be wearing them, said board President Gonzalo Freixes. In addition, many administrators said they have little gang activity to worry about in their elementary schools.

“I’m at a school where we have very little of that, if any,” said Wayne Abruzzo, principal of Valencia Valley Elementary School. “There are a few students (who dress in gang-style clothing), but it’s limited more to style than to wanna-be gang members.”

Freixes said he is a strong supporter of mandatory uniforms, arguing they will improve the learning environment even at schools where gang activity is minimal.

“It also gets them used to the idea (of wearing uniforms) when they go to junior and senior high schools,” he said.

Mandatory uniforms were implemented for the first time in Santa Clarita this year at La Mesa Junior High School, where support from parents and school officials--but not necessarily students--has been overwhelming. Administrators of other Santa Clarita Valley school districts have said they are interested in requiring uniforms, especially if the program at La Mesa is successful.

McGrath said he doesn’t oppose mandatory uniforms but believes it will be a struggle to overcome court challenges by those who contend that such a requirement limits freedom of expression. Also, he said he doesn’t believe uniforms will be as effective as some parents hope.

“It won’t stop the fact that there’s gangs in the community,” he said. “They’re just not as easy to identify on campus.”

The board meets at 7:30 p.m. at the district’s board room, 25375 Orchard Village Road.