JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parents, students and community members in Duval County are being asked their opinion of school uniforms.
The School Board is considering a plan to make uniforms mandatory for elementary and middle-school students in the 2016-17 school year. While uniforms would be required, each school could pick the color and type of uniform.
High school students would not be affected.
School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the state Legislature has discussed offering districts $10 extra per student as an incentive to adopt uniforms. That would could mean $700,000 of additional funding to Duval County schools.
Duval County already has 53 schools that voluntarily adopted uniforms, up from 23 two years ago. During the late 1990s, the entire district imposed uniforms, but allowed students to opt out. Eventually, most students and parents ignored it.
"Really had good, positive energy to begin with, and based on my conversation with principals, teachers and even some parents and some students in the system back then," said Vitti. "The downfall was the opt-out."
Vitti said giving students the option to wear the uniforms sent mixed messages to students, but he says since he's become superintendent, more schools have started uniforms on their own.
"We know that there's a renewed focus and belief in uniforms, and we feel like that could help all our elementary and middle schools focus a bit better on discipline, safety, student achievement, limit distractions and help parents financially," Vitti said.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said some school districts have seen crime greatly reduced after requiring uniforms, including reduction of up to 50 percent in fighting in some schools.
"I think it's a good idea because it cuts down on the social-economic disparity between students, because they feel more comfortable if they can't afford the really nice and fancy clothes," Smith said.
Community members have mixed opinions on requiring uniforms.
"It does improve the discipline in the schools, and it's very uniform for everyone," said Norma Vargas, a retired school teacher. "No hassles in the morning to see what they are going to wear, and the kids look very professional."
"Sometimes it is nice for them to have their own opinion of what they should wear and their own taste and that kind of thing, as long as it doesn't get out of control," parent Michael Assaf said.
The survey (below) is open through Friday. The results will be reviewed and Vitti said he plans to met with PTAs and school advisory councils early next year. The School Board could vote on the plan as early as March.