District May Don Uniform Policy

School board members tonight are expected to approve the first districtwide school uniform policy.

The policy would allow parents at individual schools to vote on whether the wearing of uniforms should be mandatory or voluntary.

“I’m not convinced school uniforms are what we need, but we’re opening the door so that schools can go ahead if that’s what they want,” Irvine Unified School District Trustee Margie Wakeham said. “This will give them a procedure to follow.”

The policy was created in response to parents at Westpark and Westwood Basics Plus elementary schools who are advocating uniforms. A mandatory school uniform policy would require approval by three-quarters of the parents. A voluntary policy would require 50% approval.

Uniform requirements at individual schools would have to be reviewed every three years.

Even if a school chooses to adopt a mandatory uniform policy, parents could submit an “Application for Exemption” to the school’s principal.

School board members gave preliminary approval of the policy May 7, but questioned what would happen to students in families where parents disagree. Supt. Dennis M. Smith said he will suggest a revision to the policy that would exempt a student from wearing a uniform if parents cannot agree.

The uniform policy will be considered along with a district dress code banning clothing that has a “disruptive effect.”