North Star Academy - Uniform Policy Changes

North Star Academy Parent Petition Statement In Opposition to Proposed Policy Changes, removal of Light Blue shirts and Navy bottoms
Prepared November 2008

In light of the school's Uniform Committee's obligation to consider parent feedback in its recommendations to the Board, the undersigned parents submit this petition in OPPOSITION to the proposed elimination of light blue shirts and navy blue bottoms. The undersigned cite one or more of the following three reasons for their opposition:

1. North Star Academy's Uniform Quality will be diminished if Navy Bottoms are eliminated.

Clean and crisp uniforms are a source of pride for North Star Academys students, parents, and staff. We all want to adhere to that standard, but as every parent knows, keeping light-colored bottoms in uniform-quality condition can be challenging. Retaining navy blue bottoms as a choice increases the likelihood of keeping our uniforms in the best possible condition. This is consistent with the Uniform Policy requiring that uniforms be kept in good repair and seasonally/weather appropriate.

2. Eliminating Navy Blue Bottoms and Light Blue Shirts will add Significant Costs to Families.

Without the opportunity to alternate from khaki to navy bottoms, our childrens uniforms will wear faster, requiring more frequent replacement or a greater number of bottoms being placed into our families rotation.

In addition, many North Star Academy families purchased navy bottoms and light blue shirts prior to the Uniform Committee communicating non-Board approved changes to the Uniform Policy. For example, buying ahead or by passing uniforms from older to younger siblings. Despite a phase-in/phase-out period (which hasnt been defined) we will still be discarding wearable and appropriate navy bottoms and light blue shirts, replacing them with khaki bottoms and white shirts, incurring additional expense for our families.

In these more challenging economic times, we believe it is fiscally and socially responsible to keep navy bottoms and light blue shirts in the uniform, pursuant to current policy.

3. Eliminating Navy Bottoms Presents a Special Problem for our Daughters.

Young ladies entering puberty need options to counter their own personal struggles. These problems are impossible to effectively and discretely manage under a khaki colored bottom only policy. A policy of no dark colored bottoms distinctly disadvantages these children during what can be an extremely difficult time of their lives. This problem isnt resolved by making dark bottoms a middle school only choice as some young ladies enter puberty prior to middle school.