School District Studies Mandatory Uniforms
A new policy that would clear the way for mandatory student uniforms at Magnolia School District campuses could be considered by the Board of Trustees as soon as June 24.
If the policy wins board approval, Supt. Paul S. Mercier said, schools would begin consulting with community members to determine on a campus-by-campus basis if student uniforms should be required.
The earliest a mandatory uniform policy would go into effect, Mercier said, would be July 1997. Four of the campuses--Marshall, Pyles, Schweitzer and Walter--have had a voluntary school uniform program for several years.
Magnolia officials began exploring the idea of requiring uniforms after hearing positive reports from Long Beach Unified School District--the first public school district in the nation to adopt a mandatory uniform policy.
President Clinton visited Long Beach Unified in February and praised school uniforms, which are credited with reducing peer pressure and violence.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
