A Consistent Attire Program (CAP) that is being considered by 11 Wicomico County elementary schools was approved on 1st reading by the Board of Education at its Feb. 14 meeting. CAP will be on the March 13 agenda for 2nd reading and a vote. The draft policy statement on consistent attire and a November presentation on CAP are posted on the Board’s home page at www.wcboe.org, under Spotlight.
Public comment is welcome at comments@wcboe.org and 410-677-5251, or mailing comment to Public Input, Wicomico Schools, PO Box 1538, Salisbury MD 21802. ParentLink will be used to ask parents in the 11 schools to respond to a single survey question about whether they support consistent attire or do not support it.
At the request of the Board, the updated draft policy statement includes information about consequences for violations of consistent attire, and procedures for approving (or discontinuing) a consistent attire program. According to the draft policy statement, “If at least 70% of the parent surveys are returned and 60% of those parents are in favor of consistent attire, the plan will be submitted to the Board of Education for approval.”
Jason Miller, assistant principal of Prince Street Elementary, and Jennifer Rice, assistant principal of North Salisbury Elementary, have been leading the team that is researching CAP and helping schools survey parents to learn their interest in a CAP to ensure consistent attire. Consistent attire, like uniforms, can build team spirit, improve school climate, encourage appropriate attire, reduce bullying and peer pressure over clothes, decrease discipline issues, and make the morning routine easier for families, they said.
The following elementary schools have indicated interest in CAP: Beaver Run, Charles H. Chipman, Delmar, East Salisbury, Glen Avenue, North Salisbury, Pemberton, Pinehurst, Prince Street, Wicomico Early Learning Center, and West Salisbury Elementary. Wicomico High School also requested details of the CAP policy, though at this time the policy is written only for elementary school students.
At the schools surveyed last fall, response was strongly favorable to the question “Do you think Wicomico County Public Schools should consider consistent attire for next year if your child had choices?” Staff members overwhelmingly favored a CAP for students. Most parents who responded to the CAP survey agreed that CAP would make it easier for students to get ready in the morning, would help stop teasing about clothes, and would save families money on clothes. The majority of students grades 3-5 who responded to a survey said they would like to wear consistent attire next year if they had a choice.
If the Board approved the CAP in March, that would leave plenty of time to inform families that it would take effect for the 2012-13 school year and alert local clothing merchants to the new program.
Board members heard details of the CAP proposal at the Nov. 1 work session. At that time, some Board members favored the proposal and others opposed it, while some Board members said they needed to know more about how CAP would work. Over the past three months, numerous public comments have been received, both for and against CAP.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
All schools & all grades K-12, would do better with CAP system (uniforms). The basic pants & shirts are already being sold in local stores. The kids look better which leads to better self esteem instead of the taunting of who's wearing what. Also, the boy's underwear isn't hanging out which is really not a nice look.
UNIFORMS, ABSOLUTELY
70% of 60% is 42% in favor. Guess they think that's a majority supporting it.
How long will it take for us to have to pay for the ones who cant afford it. No way
Junior and senior high need this more than elementary.
Trust me plenty of elem girls try to come to school in short shorts, and tank tops. Many boys have pants falling down and I saw one boy this year wearing his pj's to school on a non-pj day. It is needed in every school ASAP.
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