School unity will take on a new meaning at Meridian High School in August, as students will report to classes dressed in uniforms.

The high school will join the uniform dress code implemented last year for grades prekindergarten through ninth.

“Most kids are surprisingly pleased,” said R.D. Harris, principal. “Many have said they no longer will have to spend the night before worrying about what they are going to wear to school the next day.”

Parents are also pleased with the economic aspect of the new dress code, Harris said.

“Now they will only have to buy two or three outfits, instead of a whole wardrobe,” he said.

A uniform committee was formed to create a dress code with consideration of that already implemented with other schools in the district.

“We will strictly go by the dress code, not deviate at all,” Harris said.

Meridian High is not the only school in the district expected to adhere to the dress code. According to Superintendent Sylvia Autry, lack of consistency has been a big complaint among parents.

“We used last year as our pilot year to find out what worked and what did not,” she said. “Last year I talked to a number of parents, and their biggest request was, ‘Please, be consistent.’”

A meeting with a group of secondary school students provided Autry even more insight. The students were informed beforehand that their responses would not result in discontinuation of the uniform policy.

“I wanted to know what they liked about wearing the uniforms and what we could do better — and we got some really good information,” she said.

From there, a list of guidelines was created for all schools in the public school district to assure everyone is on the same page.

“This will be followed by everyone — all principals as well as everyone at central office — so that we won’t give parents one bit of information and the principals something different,” she said.

For example, students will no longer be allowed to pay a dollar to wear jeans on Fridays.

“There will be no more T-shirts. We did allow some T-shirts if they were the right color,” Autry said. “This year, everything is a polo shirt.”

District colors are “Wildcat blue,” royal blue and/or white for tops. Bottoms must be khaki/tan, navy blue or black. Each school will have a school color.

The uniform dress code is as follows:

Tops (Polo collar – 2 or 3 buttons. No snaps or zippers)

• Solid shirts (no logos or designs except schools). Short or long sleeves.

• If a T-shirt is worn underneath a top, it must be white.

Bottoms (trouser style)

• Pants — pleated or flat.

No cargo, corduroy or denim (sagging clothing is not allowed)

• Shorts, skirts and capris — pleated or flat (The minimum length for clothing is 4 inches above the knee).

Jackets must be waist length and must be school or district color (no trench coats). Jackets have been purchased — through the generosity of a unanimous benefactor — for distribution to students in need of outerwear during the cold weather months, Autry said.

Belts must be black or brown; a standard buckle is required if pants have belt loops. Shoes must follow the school district’s dress code.

Teachers may also wear uniforms, but it is not mandatory. Harris said many on his staff have decided to wear them.

“We have about 15 to 20 percent of our teachers who plan to wear uniforms,” he said. “I think once they start out wearing them and see how much easier it is to get dressed mornings, more of them will do it.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Let us know your thoughts about school dress codes. Contact Ida Brown at (601) 693-1551 ext. 3224 or e-mail her at

ibrown@themeridianstar.com.

WHERE TO BUY

The following businesses have agreed to sell uniforms to students attending Meridian public schools for the 2006-07 school year:

• Blue Jeans Outlet/School Uniform Division, 2211 Highway 45 North, Suite 3, (phone number unavailable)

• Judge Little, 1100 24th Ave., (601) 483-7385.

• Perfect Promotions, 504 Highway 19 North, (601) 482-7710

• Little People Boutique, 2216 43rd St., (601) 483-5766

• Wal-Mart (all locations), (601) 485-2250/482-0425

• Fred’s Dollar Stores (all locations), (601) 693-6667/482-5202

• Sears, Bonita Lakes Mall, (601) 553-3200

• Dillard’s, Bonita Lakes Mall, (601) 482-8929

• Belk’s, Bonita Lakes Mall, (601) 484-7858

• JC Penney, Bonita Lakes Mall, (601) 693-2471

• Old Navy, Bonita Lakes Circle, (601) 483-4266

• Liberty Shop, 404 22nd Ave., (601) 693-5331

• Peanut Gallery, 4803 29th Ave., (601) 693-7181

• Dollar General (all locations), (601) 693-3036/693-8265/482-0100

• David’s Department Store, P.O. Box 33, Decatur, MS 39327, (601) 635-4780

• West Gate Variety, 4903 West Gate Hills, (601) 485-9911

• Bonnie Jean’s for Children, 2626 North Hills St., (601) 483-3379

• Rainbow, 2114 N. Frontage Road, (601) 481-1556