THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9505270170
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
IT'S OFFICIAL: When school opens this fall at Ruffner Middle, students will be outfitted in color-coded uniforms.
The School Board last week gave its stamp of approval to Principal Pamela Hoffler-Riddick's plan to require kids to dress uniformly. She has advocated a teacher dress code and proper dress for students as a way to improve the school's image and learning environment.
Ruffner will become the first school in Norfolk to adopt uniforms since the General Assembly passed legislation earlier this year allowing local school boards to require that students wear them.
After the School Board's unanimous vote, Chairman Ulysses Turner said: ``Uniforms will be at Ruffner.''
``Yes!'' Hoffler-Riddick exclaimed.
Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. recommended approval. Nichols said Hoffler-Riddick has met the test of the legislation, including efforts to involve students and parents in making the decision and to accommodate parents who can't afford to buy the uniforms.
``She's done an extremely thorough job,'' Nichols said.
Surveys of Ruffner students and parents reveal that the majority favor uniforms. A survey of parents with sixth- and seventh-graders showed that 57 percent supported the idea; 38 percent strongly supported it. Twenty-eight percent opposed it, including 17 percent who were strongly opposed. Fifteen percent were neutral.
Hoffler-Riddick said students will wear color-coded shirts by grade: light blue for sixth-graders, yellow for seventh-graders and white for eighth-graders. The uniform also will consist of sweaters and navy blue pants, ``skorts'' - a combination skirt-short - or skirts.
Color-coding the students will help teachers identify students, Hoffler-Riddick said.
``It's a safety issue - we are able to pinpoint them immediately,'' she told the board.
Ruffner students also will be required to wear black or brown dress shoes - no sneakers will be allowed except in gym, Hoffler-Riddick said.
After a two-week grace period at the start of school, kids who come to school out of uniform will be disciplined the same way as they are now when they don't dress out for physical education: First a warning and then possible suspension for repeat offenses.
Responding to a question from board member Anna Dodson about the cost of uniforms, Hoffler-Riddick said financial assistance will be available for parents who can't afford them. But the school has located a clothes supplier that will charge a relatively low price: For less than $100, she said, students could buy a sweater, four shirts and two pants or skorts.
``No student will be denied access to Ruffner who wants to be there and can't afford a uniform,'' Hoffler-Riddick said.
Students at the school held a field day Friday to raise money for a fund that disadvantaged students will be able to tap to buy uniforms. Students contributed by buying popcorn, cotton candy and tickets for field events.
The hottest-selling item was going for $1: a ticket to dump Hoffler-Riddick in a dunking booth.
``I brought a change of clothes,'' Hoffler-Riddick joked. ``It's a bad hair day.'' ILLUSTRATION: Pamela Hoffler-Riddick is the principal at Ruffner Middle
School.
by CNB