Board Of Education To Decide On Central Regional Uniforms Next Week

Central Regional students got their first look at samples of proposed school uniforms this week and will vote tomorrow whether to require them.

"I think some of the kids that didn't like the uniforms originally were swayed by how good the shirts and pants looked," Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides said.

The Central Regional Board of Education will decide on whether to adopt a uniform policy at the monthly board meeting on May 16, he said.

"We are giving them a lot of choices," Parlapanides said. "Shirts are long and short sleeved in garnet, grey and black, pants, skirts and shorts are khaki or black, with a garnet sweater or sweatshirt. Shoes we are still deciding on, but it will be some type of black dress shoe."

The students voted on the uniforms earlier this year, school officials decided to take another vote with just grades 7 through 11, instead, he said.

"The seniors voted and I thought they might have voted yes just to stick it to the underclassmen," Parlapanides said. "So they will be voting again on Friday, only grades 7 to 11."

Parents also voted earlier this year, with roughly 60 percent in favor of uniforms and 40 percent against for both the high school and middle school, he said.

Eighty-five percent of parents whose children attend the Seaside Heights Elementary School - now part of the Central Regional district - voted in favor of uniforms, Parlapanides said.

The move would take pressure off both students and parents and would enhance school security at the 98-acre campus off Forest Hills Parkway, Parlapanides said.

"We are a 98-acre ranch...with lots of entrances," he told the Township Council during a presentation earlier this year. "If everyone is in uniform, we know who everybody is."

Switching to uniforms would put all students on an even basis and lessen the economic burden for parents," Parlapanides said.

"A lot of our families lost everything due to Superstorm Sandy," he has said. "This way you don't have to go out and buy a $200 pair of Nikes."

The benefits of uniforms include:

• Renewed focus on academics

• School safety

• Reduction in tardiness, suspensions and disciplinary referrals.

• Levels socioeconomic differences

• Long-range cost effectiveness

What do you think of the uniform choices? Tell us in the comments below!