By EMILY GRUNES April 1st, 2022
At last Thursday’s meeting, the school board unanimously voted to mandate school uniforms at all three buildings of the district. The issue has been on the table for years after parents collected 850 signatures on a petition in 2014. The new mandate will require students to wear a formal school uniform to school and all school based events. The initiative is part of the district’s overarching goal to equalize schools. The new Superintendent, Stephen Walker, brought this initiative into fruition as one of his first big steps at Croton Harmon. He told the press on Thursday, “we hope that this new program will help students and families feel more comfortable. Fashion trends can be stressful at home and in the classroom, especially when children can’t afford to keep up, and we hope this program will alleviate any pressure from students and families to buy new clothes”. Despite backlash from Student Faculty Congress and teachers, this program will come into effect starting in September of 2022.
The school board, along with the Guidance department at CHHS have put together a tentative design for said uniforms. High school psychologist Eric Rosen addressed the school board saying, “we want them to be gender inclusive and comfortable while also fostering school spirit”. The current design is bright orange t-shirts with a choice of black midi-skirts, shorts, or pants. Each student will be given two sets at the start of the school year, with more for sale at the school store.