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Trustees should determine fate of school uniforms-- HCDSB By TIM WHITNELL Metroland Media Group A special committee of the Halton Catholic District School Board has recommended that the power to make decisions about students wearing uniforms in its elementary schools be in the hands of elected trustees, not parents. However, the committee is also suggesting school communities require a lower threshold of votes, a simple majority (50 per cent plus one), if they want to opt out of the program. Since 2009, 29 of the Halton Catholic board's 41 elementary school communities have participated in the current school voting process, which requires a two-thirds majority for acceptance of uniforms. Twelve of the board's elementary school communities so far have opted not to conduct a vote. Uniforms are mandatory at the board's eight high schools. Four Halton Catholic elementary schools have implemented a uniform dress code to date: St. Elizabeth Seton and St. Gabriel of Burlington, Guardian Angels of Milton and St. James of Oakville. Of the four schools that voted for a uniform dress code, St. Gabriel and Guardian Angels did so overwhelmingly, with 92 per cent and 89 per cent of voters respectively saying yes, while voters at St. Elizabeth Seton and St. James barely achieved the needed two-thirds majority with 68 and 67 per cent respectively saying yes. The school uniform ad hoc committee, consisting of the board's nine trustees, met five times between March and June in 2012 to consider the hot-button issue of elementary school student uniforms. It received feedback from some parents and school administrators. "School communities are pretty evenly split on whether to have uniforms," Oakville trustee and ad hoc committee chairman Anthony Danko told the board at a recent meeting. "Where there are schools that have uniforms, they are happy to have them. At other schools (without them) there is less support." The opinion of school councils is split on whether the decision-making power to implement uniforms should remain with individual school communities or be delegated to the school board. One thing the ad hoc committee said was clear is that the current school uniform process is "contentious and divisive within the school communities." Board staff received 36 responses from elementary school administrators with the vast majority preferring that decisionmaking authority for uniforms be shifted to the board. Increased pressure and workload at the school level under the current policy were cited as reasons for wanting the change. There are two other recommendations of the ad hoc committee. One is to allow parents of Kindergarten pupils registered to attend the following school year to be eligible to cast a vote on uniforms. Also, the committee suggests possibly expanding the list of school uniform providers from the perspective of convenience and cost. The recommendations of the school uniform ad hoc committee-- it has disbanded since filing its report with the board on June 19-- have to be referred back to the board's policy committee for consideration. The issue can come back to the board, possibly this fall, with a policy rescindment required and then a trustee motion incorporating suggested changes for a new school uniform policy. INDIAN RIVER DIRECT TRUCKLOAD SALE 5 ·The IFP· Halton Hills, Tuesday, July 17, 2012 GEORGETOWN ACTON Wednesday, July 18th, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Yoyo Japanese Restaurant 357 Guelph St., (beside Ford dealership) LAST DAY Wednesday, July 18th, 12:30 - 3:00 pm The Olde Hide House (Eastern & Mill) 25 LB. BOX GEORGIA FREESTONE PEACHES Flyerland.ca Community ­ The voice of savings in Canada Join the Flyerland.ca community it's quick and easy. SAVE TIME. SAVE MONEY. 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