LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 14, 2000

LULING – School uniforms aren’t mandatory yet for St. Charles Parishstudents.

The St. Charles Parish School Board is considering a mandatory schooluniform policy for the 2000-2001 school year and was expected to vote on the proposal Wednesday, but the entire matter has been sent back for further parental comment without any firm date for proceeding any more.

“I’m more interested in doing it correctly than doing it quickly,” board member Mary Bergeron said, drawing a round of applause from parents in the audience. “I want it to be sensible and acceptable to the majority of thepeople.”Several parents addressed the issue during the meeting, all voicing their concerns.

“I don’t ever remember subjugating my parental responsibility to any board, committee or the superintendent,” Scott Doyle of Destrehan commented, adding he would like to see a program on cable television in rebuttal to that already being shown promoting the uniforms idea.

Milton Alleman Jr. of Hahnville added, “Please stop this; this has gone toofar.”Hahnville High sophomore Renee Alleman, Milton’s daughter, observed, “Learning has nothing to do with attire, and I hope you realize that.”She also called the imposition of uniforms as “a personal attack on my freedom.”Cheri Brand of Luling said she talked with many parents, none of whom had known of the survey. “We did not have all the facts,” she said.Bergeron said it is wrong of the board to approve a policy including school uniforms without first establishing the procedures for implementation and enforcement. She suggested holding the matter over for a third readingafter further input from parents.

“For many parents it is an issue of parental control,” she said.

At this point, board member Wayne Roussel added his agreement with Bergeron. “She’s got a valid point,” he said. “I’m not comfortable, either.”From that point, the board wavered and conceded it was not prepared to proceed with immediate approval of the policy.

Board member John L. Smith moved to seek more parental input andcomplete the work on the procedures.

“The superintendent should bring it back up only when it’s ready,” he said.

Smith’s motion was approved by a 6-1 vote, with board president Clarence “Sonny” Savoie voting against it. “How long do we need to continue to getinput?” he asked. “I’ve only heard from four people, and they were allpositive.”The issue has lingered since initial surveys were done in October, which prompted development of the policy. Critics, however, say many parentsnever saw the survey forms and their views were not heard.

At the March 22 board meeting, this objection, raised by Bergeron, prompted the superintendent to provide response forms at every school, public library and on the Internet.

Dr. Juanita Haydel, administrative assistant to the superintendent, said 413responses were received since that board meeting, with roughly 250 favoring uniforms and the remainder opposing the move.

“It was genuine input from the pubic, and we need that,” Haydel said.

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