ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WBTW) – Southside-Ashpole Elementary School students will wear uniforms this school year.
Southside-Ashpole Elementary was taken over by the state’s Innovative School District (ISD) in November last year after it received an “F” rating three years in a row.
Deputy State Superintendent, Dr. Eric Hall, told News13 the uniforms were a direct request from the community.
“Back in June we held a community forum where parents and community members could come and listen about the plans, the goals, the curriculum, and everything we’re going to be doing this upcoming school year,” he explained. “We had a couple parents raise the question about could the school have uniforms?”
Dr. Hall said by the end of that meeting nearly everyone in the room wanted the uniforms for the students.
The district has partnered with Achievement for All Children to provide three free sets of uniforms to each student at the elementary school.
“In this first year of start-up it’s not a burden on parents as they plan for this year year of implementing uniform policy,” said Dr. Hall, “It’s about making sure it’s a good, strong economic incentive for the parents to be able to participate in the uniform policy, but at the same time make sure the cost is not a barrier.”
The uniform consists of khaki pants and an embroidered blue shirt with the school logo. Parents are responsible for purchasing black shoes for their child.
Students had the opportunity for two fittings for their uniforms, and will receive them in the mail before school starts at the end of the month.
Shaneka Johnson’s eight-year-old son will be a third grader at the school this year.
“To me, I don’t have a problem with it,” said Johnson. “It’s going to be a great money-saver. I don’t have to put so much money into buying school clothes.”
Johnson said she only had one reservation about the new uniform policy.
“I do think the kids should have the opportunity to wear their regular clothes maybe one day out of the week, but other than that I like the idea of uniforms,” she said.
Johnson said she hopes the uniforms will prevent bullying.
“You don’t have to worry about the kids just teasing each other or going back and forth or worried about how they look,” she said. “They’ll be more focused on their education, and not what they’re wearing to school or what kind of shoes somebody else has got on.”
Dr. Hall said one of the goals of the uniforms was to take the burden of choosing an outfit every morning off the student.
“Kids can get up, they know exactly what they’re going to wear,” he said. “They come to school ready to learn and to participate in the curriculum, and the instruction of what’s going to be offered at Southside-Ashpole.”
Dr. Hall said school pride was a big proponent of the uniforms.
“This school has a long history in that community where there’s been generations of families that have gone through that school,” he said. “I think the pride itself is coming directly from the community and the parents.”
The Deputy State Superintendent said it’s important to not have any distractions so the students can focus on having a successful year.
“Students come through the door each day ready to learn, and we support them with having good quality instruction, and getting them in a situation where, again, it’s not about how their appearance may be that day, it’s more about how they come through the door as a scholar ready to participate in the academics,” he said.
Johnson said she appreciated the work of the Innovative School District, and thinks the children will have a positive experience this school year.
“They’re coming to school for education, and especially with the Innovative School system taking over, I think it’ll give these kids a better opportunity to succeed,” she said.
Southside-Ashpole’s first day of school is on Aug. 27.