DeLand, FL – The Volusia County School Board could have put the much-discussed uniform debate to bed during Tuesday night’s meeting, but chose instead to drag it out for at least another month.
Following a lengthy discussion during its meeting at the DeLand Administrative Complex on North Clara Avenue, the VCSB OK’d an amendment to the policy on the table allowing blue jeans.
The newly amended policy – which was unanimously approved – will need to be re-advertised and voted on at a future VCSB meeting. That vote is expected to happen sometime next month.
This move comes after the VCSB voted 4-1 during a meeting last month to advertise the policy it just amended. If it passes next month without any amendments, all public school students in Volusia will be required to wear uniforms starting next school year.
Linda Cuthbert of District 3 was the only one who didn’t approve during that meeting and she was the VCSB member leading the charge against it again Tuesday night, saying it was a bad idea because there’s just not enough people for it.
“I think there’s a lack of support from our PTA and SAC committees,” Cuthbert added. “I think there’s too many questions still left unsaid. I’m concerned about implementation.”
Cuthbert made 3 separate motions to not implement a policy, to table it and to have it be a voluntary pilot program schools can opt into, but all of those motions failed for lack of a second.
Cuthbert reluctantly seconded the blue jeans amendment made by District 5’s Melody Johnson – a measure Cuthbert had proposed earlier in the meeting – after it was clear that nobody else on the board would.
As has been the case during recent meetings, a large group of anti-uniform speakers spoke during public comments, many of them blasting the School Board for even considering this move.
The board has spent months debating this particular topic, often in front of a large group of angry parents and students during board meetings. Many of those in opposition have formed online petitions to try to steer the school board away from this move.
If it goes through, the policy requires students to wear collared polo or button-down shirts and would allow navy blue, black or khaki pants, shorts, capris, skirts, skorts or jumpers. Every school would have white as a shirt color and up to 2 other colors, depending on the school principal. More than likely, those colors will match the current school colors.
School principals would have various options they could use to relax the uniform policy, including altering it 1 day a week or up to 4 weeks a year. They can also allow kids on school-sponsored teams or clubs to wear clothing related to those teams or clubs.
Students can’t be suspended from school for repeatedly violating the policy, but they will be given verbal warnings and be forced to comply before returning to class.
Supporters say the uniforms should cut down on peer pressure and bullying, lead to better classroom performance and make it easier to tell who’s a student and who’s not, thus making it easier for campus security personnel to do their job. Those against say it will do none of those things.
Volusia would become the 9th school district in the state to have a uniform policy if it’s OK’d by the VCSB. That includes Flagler County Schools.
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.