By Jim Lisk, Staff Writer
Sunday, May 6, 2007 — Pokie Noland, principal of Central Elementary, requested and received approval of the Stanly County School Board Tuesday night for the implementation of school uniforms at the new Central Elementary when it opens with the 2007-2008 school year.
Noland said that the spirit wear would be much like that already successfully in place at Albemarle Middle.
The idea originated in a staff meeting and was looked at by the school’s improvement team before being introduced to the parents.
In an April 3 meeting with parents, Noland said that uniforms were modeled and a vote showed that 85 percent of parents supported uniforms.
Noland described the parental turnout at the meeting as “excellent” with 40 percent of the families represented.
In requesting board approval, Noland stated five positive reasons to support the implementation of spirit wear:
• Uniforms promote equality in the classroom in that everyone is dressed the same;
• Uniforms lower distractions due to the clothes worn by students and puts more focus on learning;
• Uniforms level the socio-economic status of students, again putting the emphasis on learning;
• Uniforms have a security component in that they make students more easily identifiable on field trips and in hall ways;
• Uniforms gives all students a sense of pride and allows that pride to show through.
Boardmember Chris Whitley made a motion to approve the request with a second from Anita Owens-Scott.
The motion was approved by the vote of the board thus making the wearing of uniforms as a the rule of the day when the new Central Elementary opens for the new school year in late August.
