The School Committee approved a dress code policy that does not include specific uniforms but the board said it would like a school to pilot a uniform program.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee is wondering if one of its principals will pilot a school uniform program.

 

On Wednesday, the School Committee approved a dress code policy but toyed with the idea of finding a school to pilot uniforms. The members said the uniforms wouldn't automatically improve tests scores but could go a long way in improving school culture and reducing bullying.

 

"One of my concerns when I was looking at the dress code is that they are difficult to enforce. They take time to enforce and is uncomfortable to enforce," said Chairwoman Katherine Yon, who suggested the idea of having a school or a group pilot a uniform program.

 

Yon said she was impressed with the blazers the Skills USA students wear and suggested a school try to implement a uniform-like program having the students wear something like khakis and buttoned shirts. 

 

"It just makes it easier. It is something you don't have to worry about," Yon said.

 

As a former teacher, Yon said it would significantly reduce social problems and be easy to enforce. School Committee member Anthony Riello said he saw such a program work in Falmouth.

 

"It was a great success. It levels the playing field," Riello said. "Once the families and students started to wear these things, everybody was happy."

 

Superintendent Jason McCandless said there are many ways a uniform policy could help students, parents, and school staff. He is supportive of the efforts to implement uniforms but also knows there are many hurdles to jump to do so. 

 

Firstly, he said parents wouldn't want to be forced to buy particular clothing. The children now are mostly wearing clothing bought for them by adults, who will say the school system can tell them what to wear when it starts paying for the clothing.

 

McCandless said the schools need to partner with parents to change the culture. He wants students and families to treat the school as a "special place" and dress accordingly. He compared the idea to having "church clothes" and that comes with changing the school culture.

 

"School is not just an extension of the sidewalk or your back yard. It is school and that means something. We need you to dress appropriately for the business that is done there," he said.

 

Mayor Daniel Bianchi said there are already a number of rules on clothing in place but enforcement is another issue.

 

"We do have rules. We do have a dress code. Because it is as broad as it is, it may be more difficult to enforce. But we do have standards," Bianchi said.

 

Deputy Superintendent Joseph Curtis said the school has crafted a letter to be sent to parents of violators reiterating the dress code rules. Curtis said some students are counseled on attire but often the parents aren't notified. Now, the letter will be sent to parents, coupled with a phone call from administrators.

 

McCandless said the district is good at restricting students from wearing clothing with offensive messaging. The students causing disruptions with attire is "5 to 10 percent" of the population. 

 

"It is a 5 to 10 percent problem. It tends to be the same students day in and day out that are abusing the dress code policy," he said.

 

Enforcing the current dress code can also be awkward.

 

"The biggest problem I get tends to be about girls and tends to be about girls wearing revealing clothing," McCandless said, addressing the "elephant in the room". "It is as awkward as it gets as a male staff member."

 

He says while he wants principals to be aware of the situation but he doesn't want that to consume all of their time. He said there are still 90 percent of the student body needing education and principals should focus on providing the best school environment and teacher support. He said principals often need to "pick their battles."

 

"It is pretty much a middle and high school issue. But it is one of about 100 issues," the superintendent said.

 

From School Committee member Daniel Elias' viewpoint, the middle and high school attire is often offensive to the public. Member Cynthia Taylor says evidence shows that the school culture is improved with uniforms.

 

It will now be up to individual school administrators to craft a program to pilot uniforms. And McCandless said whichever school tries it, will have the full support of district administrators.