JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County Public Schools School Board chairwoman said there should be a district-wide grace period for parents to adjust to school uniform policies.
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News4JAX spoke to the chair of the School Board, who represents the district where Westside High is located, Charlotte Joyce.
“I think what we had questions about, a grace period. What we need to have across the district is a grace period for our students and our parents to make sure that their needs are being taken care of,” Joyce said.
The uniform policy has kept some students out of class at Westside High just days into the new school year. A father said that the lack of a grace period for this year’s uniform rule changes is affecting students’ education.
One mother said her son spent two full days in the auditorium, and her daughter, an honor student, was also pulled from class just because her pants had pockets.
News4JAX looked into the cost of school uniform packages through the school’s distributor, RC Uniforms. At Ed White, packages run between $246 and $371, depending on the child’s size.
The company said that so far this year, fewer than half of the students from Westside had purchased uniforms. It also said that some schools are rigid with uniform requirements, while others will give a week or two grace period to students.
The uniform vendor was chosen by the school’s Student Advisory Committee, which consists of students, parents and staff.
Joyce said she also wants options for parents who struggle to afford the uniforms.
“We want our parents to know we are going to work with them,” she said. “For example, I was the magnet coordinator at Joseph Stillwell. We used a vendor, RC Uniforms. We had a stipend for children who could not afford it.”
DCPS said that any questions regarding school uniforms should be directed to school administrators.
The Duval County School Board’s position on school uniforms is outlined in the DCPS Code of Conduct. Individual schools, in collaboration with their School Advisory Council (SAC), can require uniforms.
Principals and school staff are keenly aware of community needs and are committed to working with families to address any challenges or hardships related to uniform expectations. Our goal is to work collaboratively with students and parents to ensure uniform compliance and find solutions with grace and compassion. We are also incredibly proud of the community organizations, volunteers, and parent groups who generously provide resources and uniforms to our students.
If you have any questions about the uniform policy at your student’s school, please contact the school’s front office or principal for guidance.
Duval County Public Schools
The next step for this is a meeting for parents on Aug. 25 at 5:30 at Westside High.