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District 220 school uniform discussion comes and goes

Barrington Area Unit School District 220 students will continue to choose their own outfits each morning. A preliminary discussion on implementing school uniforms fizzled during Tuesday night's school board meeting.

Board member Angela Wilcox brought the topic to the board's attention, not because she wants it to happen but because she wanted to see what the other board members thought, she said.

"I'm not standing here as an advocate," Wilcox said. "I will advocate for many things, but this is just a discussion."

Wilcox said in her research she found many reasons for and against school uniforms. Wilcox said an intruder might be easier to spot if all the students were dressed the same, but uniforms would also take away students' ability to express themselves through their clothing.

Superintendent Brian Harris said school uniforms usually are considered to address a serious issue within a school's climate.

Board Vice President Penny Kazimier said unless there are problems she is not aware of, there is not enough reason to consider school uniforms.

Kazimier said the discussion reminded her of meeting a district student who had made a vest of duct tape. Kazimier said she remembers how proud the student was of the vest and said it was that kind of student expression that she didn't want to limit.

While the board's school uniform discussion is over, the board's policy committee will review the district's rules on appropriate student appearance, which haven't been updated since 2001. Any changes recommended by the policy committee would have to be voted on the full board.

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