The School Board of Alachua County released a proposal on Monday for mandatory uniforms in its schools.
Board members have discussed the possibility of mandatory uniforms for years, and five schools in Alachua County already have them, according to public information officer Jackie Johnson.
“They’ve seen a big drop off in the number of distractions in school,” Johnson said about those five public schools.
Principal Leonard Weiss of the A. Quinn Jones Center said uniforms take away the competition kids have among each other.
“What we’re doing is basically placing the focus on education,” Weiss said. “That’s the major reason for us. We want kids to understand that school is a business like anywhere else, that it’s a serious place.”
A. Quinn Jones already has a similar dress code, but it might be stepping it up in the 2010-2011 school year to comply with the new proposal.
Johnson said the uniforms will consist of plain polo shirts in limited colors and khaki or dark blue pants.
Those who are unable to purchase the school uniforms will be encouraged to contact their principals.
According to the policy, principals will have to set up a uniform donation program with the help of the school board.
The proposal will be decided on in May, according to Johnson.
The full proposal can be viewed at sbac.edu.
