Group discusses uniforms for Sikeston students

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Uniforms could be the style for students in the Sikeston School District under a dress code policy discussed Monday by a citizens' group.

The district's Citizens Advisory Committee, made up of parents, business members and community organization representatives, met Monday to discuss a range of issues and offer input to the district.

Superintendent Steve Borgsmiller said the issue at hand was driven by a Missouri law, in effect since Aug. 28, saying a public school district may require students to wear a school uniform or restrict student dress code. The school district may determine the style and color of the school uniform.

"Up until this time, there was no specific authority for a public school to have a uniform unless you had a situation where you felt it was necessary to have," Borgsmiller said.

Of the 30 or so advisory committee members present, the majority -- through a show of hands -- were against pursuing school uniforms.

Data on the subject is split.

"It doesn't suggest it's good or bad; it simply creates an environment that a school district may wish to have for its students," Borgsmiller said.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 18 percent of public schools required uniforms in 2007-2008 school year, and by some estimates that number is now closer to 24 percent. A number of private schools in the region and some public schools, such as Caruthersville (during the 2009-2010 school year), have implemented such measures. Last month Scott City School District developed a committee to study the issue.

Monday's discussion doesn't mean a uniform policy will be implemented, Borgsmiller said.

"It's simply going to give some information to board members to consider as a future opportunity if the board of education wishes to go that way," Borgsmiller said.

The superintendent said a previous meeting with the district's board of education and Community Teachers Association addressed the issue.

"One of the discussions we had was a matter of preference and whether or not the uniforms were an answer, or should we try to enforce our dress code that is currently in place to a more stringent level," Borgsmiller said.

Borgsmiller noted the dress codes state what must not be worn; uniform policies state what must be worn.

Rose Green, whose son is a student at Sikeston High School, said she feels the dress code in the high school should be more strict because some boys are wearing "baggy-style" pants, and too many girls are showing an abundance of cleavage.

Other parents of secondary students agreed.

Jeannie Robinson, whose son attends Sikeston Junior High, noted parents also play a major role because they're the ones who buy their children's clothes.

"You can put them in a uniform if you want to. If mom is buying him a size 36, and he's a size 32, his uniform pants are going to sag just like his jeans are going to sag," Robinson said.

School board member Jill Hopson noted she's not necessarily opposed to uniforms.

"But from a board member's perspective, we're going to have huge issues -- financial issues -- to deal with in the next couple years, and I just feel like right now is not a good time" to address uniforms, Hopson said.

Hopson said at both the Fifth and Sixth Grade Center and Junior High campuses it could be easier to monitor what students wear because there's one building, one entrance and exit.

"At the high school, there's no way, administratively, to do the same thing," Hopson said.

Proponents of a uniform policy said the intent is to promote a safe and disciplined learning environment. Opponents said having uniform policies in place infringes upon students' freedom to express themselves and spends more on clothing because they need to have different sets for school and out of school.

Borgsmiller noted the school district's current student dress policy is up to each individual building and school principal. No one administrator enforces a dress code policy the same, he told the crowd.

"There's no wrong answer," Borgsmiller said. "There's a lot of right answers."