Manalapan-Englishtown School Uniforms Possible for Winter 2012

A member of the Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education, Annamarie Galante, has been busy doing her homework. Her assignment has been to investigate and measure parent opinions regarding a public school uniform for district students, and she's ready to move forward.

Galante is currently working on a more detailed survey of 10 to 15 questions that will be released in the near future. Some of the questions will feature a one through five, “strongly agree”/ “strongly disagree” ranking as well as “yes” or “no” section.

In February, a survey of three simple “yes” or “no” questions was conducted through the district website to see if parents supported the idea. The results indicated a roughly even split on the issue but

The new survey will attempt to measure the parents’ views on specific issues regarding the uniforms. Among these concerns are creative expression, cost, styles, and how uniforms might affect peer pressure and bullying.

On Tuesday at Wemrock Brook School, Galante provided her BOE colleagues with a sheet of possible survey questions. The questions were chosen by a group of roughly 15 parents who served on the student uniform interest committee that was formed in February. According to Galante, no parent at the first meeting opposed the uniform. At the second meeting, only one parent was there to voice an objection.

“Since it seems that more people wanted it, we’re going to go this step forward, which is this survey. We’ll see how the parents feel,” said Galante.

According to Superintendent John J. Marciante Jr., some parents – especially those who were opposed to the idea – voted more than once on the last survey, a problem he is trying to fix.

The upcoming survey will be sent through email. All parents who are currently in the electronic backpack will receive it and will be allowed only one response. Marciante said that there will also be a phone call to parents that will remind them to retrieve the survey from email. Any parent who is not part of the electronic backpack will be able to fill out a paper copy of the survey and return it.

Marciante said the BOE might also consider whether or not the uniform can be piloted in a school that shows overwhelming support.

Details about the style remain vague, but Galante said the interest committee has considered a shirt for each school with the respective mascot or logo.

Board President Michele Stipleman noted that by law, the board has to allow enough time for public input. 

“We wouldn’t be holding a public hearing until sometime in September anyway. So if we determine we’re going to do it, we’d probably start in December or January,” said Stipelman. She added that parents would then be notified in October of a possible winter dress code. That way, they can hold off on buying winter school clothes.

Board Member Ralph Cafaro asked how children and their families who are part of the voucher program would afford to pay for the uniform.  

Marciante said that this is one of the issues that remains to be decided.

“Technically, we are giving the parents the right to speak up on this and have their participation. But the bottom line is, it comes down to a board,” said Galante, noting that the BOE’s vote is the final say.

Resident Lisa Dimino objects to the uniform idea. Dimino feels that the board is not fully considering the possible impact on taxpayers.

“I don’t have children in the district now, no. I’m going to sell my house in this town. I don’t want uniforms, and I think I have a right to vote, too. But I’m not going to get this paper,” said Dimino, who feels she should be included in the survey.   

After the meeting, Dimino explained to Patch that she is concerned about the message that a public school uniform would send to people moving to Manalapan. She noted that typically, children in urban school districts wear uniforms as part of a discipline code.

When the idea was , Marciante acknowledged that the suburban district would be “cutting edge" if they had a uniform.

“I think everyone seems to be jumping way ahead of this process,” said Marciante in response. “We are very far away from a decision on whether there is going to be school uniforms. December would work if everyone’s on the same page. And clearly that’s not going to be the case.” 

The BOE will reconvene next Tuesday, June 14, at Wemrock Brook School, to discuss improvements  to the survey and narrow the selection of questions.