By LOLITA HUCKABY
BEAUFORT TODAY

Beaufort County public school parents will have another month to give their two-cents of opinion on whether the school board should impose a mandatory uniform policy on all students in the district.

Board Chairman Fred Washington agreed Tuesday night to delay a decision on the uniform policy until the second meeting in August. Washington had initially stated he hoped the board would reach consensus by the last meeting in July.

A half dozen citizens addressed the board at this week’s meeting about the policy, some in favor, some opposing.

Steven Morello, a Hilton Head Island parent, said the policy could stifle a student’s freedom of expression but add financial burdens to already struggling families.

Julie Bell, also a Hilton Head Island parent, spoke in favor of the uniforms, saying there would be less social pressure on students if all wore the same outfits.

School board members themselves expressed divided opinions.

Most said they wanted more details on what the uniforms would be although the proposed policy says each school will have a committee to make that decision.

The proposed policy also makes it the principal’s responsibility to enforce the policy, not the classroom teacher as is often the case with the current district dress code.

One school board member even suggested the policy include teachers, some of whom do not always dress appropriately as role models, he said.

All the board members who spoke about the issue agreed the policy would not solve all the problems associated with school attendance and all agreed parents, as always, are the primary enforcers.