No Confrontations or Police Presence at Final School Uniform Meeting

A police car sat in the parking lot of at Thursday night's information session on a school uniform proposal. But event Wednesday night, and there was no appearance from group members who attempted to circulate petitions against the plan at two previous meetings.

Anne Marie Rizutto, leader of Parents Against Government Intrusion, which opposes the uniforms, was issued an "order of eviction'' from school property Wednesday by School Superintendent LeRoy Seitz. She didn't show up at the Intervale meeting.

Police were at Wednesday night's meeting a Brooklawn Middle School after the group attempted to distribute materials to parents, which is against school board policy.

At the Intervale session, parents expressed concerns about cost of uniforms, the limited choices a vendor would offer, the lack of tangible studies showing positive results and the idea of forcing children to conform.

But some at the meeting said they liked the plan, at each school to be instituted for three years. 

Although some parents were skeptical that there was much childhood bullying centered soley on clothes, Rebeecca Santana, who teaches second grade in Mountain Lakes, said she sees it happen at a young age.

"There's teasing based on clothes,'' said Santana, who thought uniforms would cut down on the problem. "I don't believe it would hurt our children, I believe it will help them.''

But Frank Garbarino pointed out that since the pilot plan for uniforms doesn't include footwear, children will still find ways of singling each other out. "There will still be kids who can afford $150 Uggs and kids that wear knock-0ffs,'' he said.

Brooklawn Middle School Principal Eileen Hoehne said that one of the biggest fears of middle being different and while uniforms aren't a guarantee against rejection, they can help.

"Middle school kids can be mean,'' she said. "I know because I see it happen every day. Their number one concern is fitting in and how they look has a lot to do with that.''

Several parents had questions about uniform cost and selection. "Kids grow really fast and it's not just going to be one set of clothes a year, it's going to be more,'' Kim Andersen said. "I object to having to buy my sons clothes at a certain place. Why not just say people can buy khakis where they want, whether its the Salvation Army or Abercrombie?''

Andersen's son Liam, 11, expressed strong disapproval of the uniform samples--polo shirts and khakis---laid out on a nearby table. "That's like putting a target on someone's back that says "nerd city,'' he told administrators.

Edel Rodriguez threatened to sue if the plan is instituted. "No one has the right to force anyone to wear something against their will, be it a burka, a hijab, or anything else,'' he said.

The three principals at the meeting, Hohene, Joseph Flanagan, of Central Middle School, and Christopher Waack, of Intervale, answered several questions about how the plan would be voted on and implemented.

• Administrators have interviewed at least eight venders but haven't chosen one yet. If the plan is approved, parents would be expected to buy clothing from vendors to guarantee uniformity, availability and a voucher system for students who can't afford the clothes. Otherwise, the cost would be passed on to taxpayers.
• There is one vote per family at each school. If families have children in different schoools, they get one vote per school.
• The votes aren't counted in total. If Brooklawn parents vote yes and Central parents vote it down, it will only be instituted at Brooklawn.
• Only parents of fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders can vote. Administrators thought it would be "unfair'' if the plan was approved by a majority of parents with kids in lower grades who wouldn't be wearing the uniforms for a few years.
• Votes, mailed in on postcards, will be kept in a sealed box and counted with parent witnesses and some students present.
• The uniform choices haven't been finalized, although shirts and colors would be customized to reflect school colors.