Union City
Last August the Union City Board of Education formally adopted the new school uniform policy, but fittings and alterations have been occurring since June.
Although it's been about 15 years since Union City had a uniform policy, parents in the community have been increasingly vocal over the last few years about bringing it back.
"We have heard the voice of the community," said Stanley Sanger, Union City superintendent of schools. "[Over the last few years] parents, students and citizens of the community have given overwhelming suggestions that we should strongly consider implementing a uniform policy."
Last spring the Board of Education sent a survey to parents asking for their opinions about bringing back school uniforms. Also, additional meetings and questionnaires on the issue were recently conducted by the board over a period of three months. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of uniforms.
Now uniforms have been made mandatory for the eight elementary schools in Union City, which run from pre-K through fifth grade.
A pilot program for the policy also has been initiated at Jose Marti Middle School. If that program is successful, school uniforms will be required for grades six through eight the following school year.
"We're looking to implement the policy in phases," said Sanger. "The most important thing is to get everyone on board with this as partners in order to be effective."
Every school uniform will include a navy blue polo shirt bearing the Union City Board of Education logo paired with khaki pants by Dickies for both boys and girls. The only distinction between the uniforms will be the name of the school, which will be printed beneath the logo, and the emblem of each individual school's mascot on the khakis.
The idea for a one-uniform district was approved to make it easier for students who transfer to another city school throughout the year. "I think this is better; it saves me money," said Adelaida Avelo, who has two children in Robert Waters School that are slowly adapting to the idea.
"I kind of like them, but my brother doesn't," said Alexandra Avelo, 9.
Boys are to wear khaki pants, and girls will have their pick of khaki pants, skirts, jumpers, or skorts, which are shorts with an overlapping flap that gives them the appearance of a skirt. Jeans will not be permitted, and all the students must wear rubber soled, closed shoes. Both boys and girls will also have the same pick of long- and short-sleeve uniform shirts.
West New York
The school district of West New York also adopted a school uniform policy at the request of the parents last June.
"Many parents of the PTO expressed a desire for a uniformed dress code, but this is primarily for the elementary schools," said Anthony Yankovich, West New York superintendent of schools.
Uniforms will be mandatory for the district's six elementary schools and 12 day care providers. The uniform policy will also extend to the pre-schoolers in the six Early Childhood Programs, which include about 1,000 youngsters in the district.
"I think it's great so that the kids don't feel the pressure of other kids who sometimes dress better," said Roseanne Valcarcel, a parent of West New York No. 4 School.
"I think they are really nice and now I can save money," said Milagro Castillo, who is also a parent at No. 4 School.
The idea for uniforms in West New York was tried in previous years but was never successfully carried through. "It was tried many years ago and it didn't work, but a lot of districts have gone through this," said Yankovich. "We need the support for the parents in order for this to be successful."
West New York Middle School is also looking to implement the uniform policy, but the Board of Education wants to hold a meeting with the parents before implementing the policy for the middle school, which houses all the sixth through seventh graders in the district.
"We're going to be operating on a step-by-step basis," Yankovich said.
Unlike Union City, however, each school in West New York will have its own distinct uniform. Boys will have the choice of wearing khaki or black pants, and girls will have the option of khaki or black pants, skirts or skorts. Every student will be required to wear a long- or short-sleeved polo shirt, and each school shirt will have a different color with its emblem on it.
"This is going to help identify the youngsters in each building and it takes away a lot of the sloppiness of dress," Yankovich said.
Where to get your uniform
In Union City parents are requested to purchase the uniforms from their main supplier, Scholastic Uniforms, which has a facility on the second floor of the Kennedy Center, 3196 Kennedy Blvd., and a warehouse retail location in north Newark.
Scholastic Uniforms has provided school uniforms for Hudson, Essex and Bergen counties for the last five years, as well as for the New York and Pennsylvania area. The owners of Scholastic also have had a strong relationship with Union City for over 30 years and were pleased to be part of this new initiative.
"[The owners] really have a love for the city," said Joy Visco, regional sales manager for Scholastic. Scholastic, which operates year-round, will also have optional gym uniforms, and are supplying shoes, socks, and sweaters for optional purchase.
In West New York, parents will be able to get their uniforms at Levy's at 6116 Bergenline Ave. on the second floor. Levy's has been a long-time sporting goods store in West New York since 1937.
"We started taking orders in the last week of June, and we will continue to take orders until the 16th of September," said Michael Levy, owner.
Fittings and alterations are done on site, and uniforms take about two to three weeks to come in after the orders are placed.
"We've made a commitment to the West New York Board of Education, and we are seeing that it is done efficiently," Levy said.
Because Board of Education adopted the school uniform policy only recently in Union City, parents will have some time to acquire the uniform, even after school begins on Sept. 8. Full implementation of the uniform policy will not go into effect until Nov. 1.
"We are looking to be fair about the whole thing, so this gives the parents some time to have full understanding [of the policy] and educate everyone to the benefits," Sanger said.
Both Union City and West New York's boards of education will give parents financial assistance for the uniforms through payment plans.
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