Parents to Be Surveyed on School Uniforms
Magnolia School District officials are trying to find out how the community feels about requiring uniforms for students at the district’s eight campuses.
A survey in English, Spanish and Vietnamese will be sent to parents whose children attend those schools. School board trustees, who approved a final draft of the letter this week, will evaluate the responses before deciding whether to require uniforms.
Supt. Paul S. Mercier said the proposal “sure got a shot in the arm with President Clinton’s visit.”
During a visit Saturday to the Long Beach Unified School District, Clinton endorsed Long Beach’s uniform policy, one of the first in the nation for a public school district, as a way of reducing peer pressure among children.
Janel Hangartner, president of the Magnolia school board, said that the success of Long Beach’s program prompted Magnolia to consider school uniforms. Long Beach officials credit the policy for a 36% drop in crime among elementary and middle school students, she said.
“Anything positive always makes a board member’s ears perk up,” Hangartner said.
If Magnolia adopts school uniforms, the policy would probably take effect in September.
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