Published: October 03, 2008 12:56 pm            

Greater Clark County Schools to host forums on school uniforms

A trip by some Greater Clark County Schools administrators, school board members and more to North Carolina gave them some ideas on bringing more technology into the schools, with the hopes of increasing the graduation rate. It also showed them school uniforms in action.

Travis Haire, director of student services at Greater Clark, said the uniforms used at the school corporation in Green County allowed students more freedom of expression. He said the schools had three set colors for polo shirts. Each

individual school within the corporation could also choose two more colors to be allowed. He said one school picked school colors; another picked pink and black.

Whatever the colors, Haire said uniforms help provide a safe environment that’s more conducive to learning.

“The kids looked professional,” he said of seeing the class in North Carolina, adding that before he was only “luke-warm” on the idea of uniforms. “I like the fact that they have some choice [in their clothing].”

He said though there is a dress code at GCCS, it is hard to enforce, especially when some things, such as baggy pants, are up to interpretation.

Superintendent Tony Bennett said he would like to hear what the public has to say on this issue. He said the board will have three study sessions where people will be allowed to voice their opinion, one in November, December and January. He said he will also look into finding a way where people can submit their suggestions on the corporation’s Web site.

Bennett said he has seen studies showing that uniforms help improve the school climate and reduce discipline issues. Steve Morris, principal at Jeffersonville High School, said he has read studies that say it also helps increase attendance rates.

Bennett said he hopes to have a recommendation either way around February or March. That way, if uniforms are approved, parents would have more time to shop for their children, he said.

As for the technology part of the trip to North Carolina, the group witnessed what a one-to-one computer ratio did for that school corporation.

Mayor Bob Hall, of Charlestown, said the corporation went from having 23 percent of its students go to college to 94 percent, just six years later. Once he heard that, he told GCCS to see if a similar thing could happen here.

“It was very impressive,” he said of seeing it first-hand. “They are changing the lives of youth.”

“It wasn’t just a laptop,” Haire said. “It was the whole climate, not just in the schools, but in the whole community.”

Hall talked about having a partnership with Charlestown to make the program a success.

The board agreed to have those who went on the trip to continue to research the topic and get cost estimates from various companies.

Also at the meeting, the board approved a change order of $94,200 to East and Westbrook Construction Company for additional work needed for the foundation at Charlestown High School.

Board member Christina Gilkey also asked the group about potentially going paperless as a board. Bennett agreed to get the cost estimates for hardware, software and training. He said he will probably be able to show those details to the board at its next meeting on Oct. 14.

        

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