School Uniforms Coming to Lordship, Chapel

Gone are the days of blue jeans and flip-flops at and elementary schools.

Come the 2012-13 school year, students at those two schools will have to follow a dress code policy approved by the Stratford Board of Education earlier this week. ( to read the new dress code policy in full.)

and are the only other schools in the district that have a school uniform policy on the books.

School officials say the move is intended to help "promote school safety and a positive school spirit, as well as reinforce a positive learning environment."

And it seems most parents would agree. According to surveys distributed by the two schools, 64 percent of Chapel parents and 78 percent of Lordship parents are in favor of a dress code policy.

"I think it's wonderful," Osi Korn Rosenberg wrote on the Stratford Patch Facebook page. "Saves money and trouble for the kids. It looks sharp and builds school spirit."

In the same comments thread, Sarah Martin wrote, "I think this is a great step in the right direction considering the economic climate and the haves and have-nots."

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Michael Feeney, chief operating officer for the Board of Education, said the most important part of the dress code is the required clothing is "easily available and doesn't have to be top of the line."

If a student is unable to comply with the new policy due to financial reasons, a medical condition or interference with religion, efforts will be made to resolve the matter, which could include transferring the student to another school in the district without a dress code policy, Feeney said.

It seems many residents, however, would like the policy Lordship and Chapel are adopting to be expanded district-wide.

"Should be all or nothing...this Whitney parent votes YES!" commented Jacki Sabia Bannister on our Facebook page.

"Wish it was district-wide -- I voted yes for Wilcoxson," wrote Amy Doherty Wiltsie.

"I would have voted yes for Nichols!" Sara Hawley Orris opined. "As a mother of three girls I would have loved to get rid of the 'what should I wear today' drama every morning."

What do you think about the dress code policy Lordship and Chapel are adopting? Should it be expanded to all of Stratford's schools? Let us know by voting in the poll and commenting below.