Manatee School Board Changes School Uniform Policy

MANATEE -- In a move to reduce discipline and gang problems in schools, Manatee County School Board members on Monday, made it easier to implement mandatory uniforms in schools.

In a meeting, board members changed a couple of provisions in their policy that would ease the initiation to implement school uniforms, though the decision will still be up to individual schools.

Under the policy (PDF), schools must conduct a survey of parents on whether they favor a mandatory uniform.

Instead of requiring two-thirds of a school’s parents to support the idea, the new policy only requires 51 percent. At least 67 percent of the school’s SAC (School Advisory Council) members must vote in favor of the uniforms.

A simple move such as that could help curb gang activity in schools, claimed school board member Barbara Harvey.

She cited the case of Osceola County schools, where mandatory uniforms have been attributed to slashing gang activity in schools by 40 percent.

“I don’t want to pressure uniforms on anybody,” she said. “This is something individual schools would address. We do have, and must admit, a gang problem in Manatee County.”

School board members Harry Kinnan and Walter Miller said they wanted to clarify the provisions, such as who gets to vote on behalf of a student from a split household, and how many SAC members are needed to get a 67 percent vote.

Superintendent Tim McGonegal said the parent who enrolls a child in school will get the vote, and there has to be a quorum for the SAC to vote on uniforms.

The other requirements, such as the formation of a uniform committee and reaching out to families who are having financial difficulty complying with the rule, still stand.

Each school is responsible for enforcing its uniform rules. Parents who wish to exempt their children from the uniform policy at their school can apply to do so.

Currently, one middle and 26 elementary schools have a uniform policy in place.

Board members then voted 4-0 to approve the changes. School Board Chairwoman Jane Pfeilsticker was absent.