3 Elementary Schools Adopt Dress Code

Students at Maple, Richman and Woodcrest elementary schools will be required to wear uniforms beginning in the 1997-98 school year.

The schools received unanimous approval from the Fullerton School District board this week to adopt a mandatory dress code. Parents, teachers and principals had asked for the approval, saying that uniforms will cut down on the cost of school clothes and reduce peer pressure to wear certain styles.

Pupils at Richman have had a voluntary dress code for the last two years. School officials said parents overwhelmingly favor the uniforms mainly because they are cheaper to purchase than designer jeans and tops. Parents say uniforms also cut down on clothing envy and ridicule.

The uniforms are dark blue pants, skirts or shorts and white shirts or blouses. The schools also may allow students to wear plaid bottoms, sweatshirts and school T-shirts.

Those who cannot afford to buy the uniforms will be referred to the Assistance League of Fullerton, a nonprofit charitable organization.

In other action, the school board voted 4 to 1 to apply for a $50,000 state grant to plan programs that would help families overcome barriers to student academic success.

Planners would study factors that prevent children from succeeding in school, such as health needs, abuse and other family issues.

“I never met a parent who does not want his child to succeed,” community activist Pat Soderquist said. “This [the grant] will help.”

Trustee Kim Ann Guth, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said, “The community already has access to social services, health services and support services, and these do not need to be duplicated on the school campuses.”