- December 16, 2025
Contrasting views were debated at the School Board’s last forum on a mandatory uniforms policy Dec. 7.
Smooth jazz crooned through the Matanzas High School Pirate Theater, Dec. 7, as student models made their way across the stage, showcasing possible school uniform combinations. As they strutted down the catwalk, Laurie Upton, Bealls store manager, announced each outfit with associating costs.
The fashion show marked the icing on the Flagler County School Board’s two-month-old cake of uniforms policy debate.
“In my own heart, I believe that school uniforms can help any public school,” said Jay Wheeler, an Osceola County School Board member who was invited to speak at the forum. “You have 13,000 students. It will be good for 13,000 students.”
Wheeler, whose district instated uniforms in 2008, was joined at the forum by two Flagler parents, Rachelle Espert (in support of school uniforms) and Mitzi Gee (in opposition), and two students, Wes Adams and Lindsay Brendel (both opposed).
After each of the five guest panelists presented for or against, comment cards were collected from parents, students and teachers in the sparsely filled auditorium.
“This is not an uproar,” board member Colleen Conklin said, in response to a comment submitted to the board that referenced public reaction as such. “Many people have been supportive.”
Still, contrasting views were showcased.
“Like it or not, our children are constantly judged on their fashion,” said Espert, mother of three Belle Terre Elementary students, in support of uniforms. “As a parent, I have a responsibility to secure my children’s senses of self-worth.”
“How can you trust that, as individuals, we will succeed in the future if you won’t even let us choose what kind of clothes we’ll wear?” asked Wes Adams, Flagler Palm Coast High School senior and student School Board member.
One resident asked, “With all that the public schools are facing, why is this a priority for our School Board?”
“Schools are a structured environment,” answered John Fischer, who initiated the uniforms discussion in October. “(Uniforms) cut down on your disciplinary situations, eliminate bullying.”
But with the county facing such financial distress, how can the board believe it’s doing the right thing in possibly issuing what amounts to an unfunded mandate? asked Gee, who is a parent of a Wadsworth student.
“The fact that we’re fighting budget cuts … doesn’t mean we’re paralyzed (to deal with anything else),” said Conklin, who has opposed unfunded mandates from the state. “It was brought up for us to discuss … and we are now having a discussion … ‘Why now?’ Why not? It’s an educational issue.”
Wheeler cited Osceola’s success story. After uniforms, gang activity dropped 86% in three years, he said. Class disturbances were cut in half. Graduation and attendance rates went up. He did say that personnel and curriculum changes also contributed to district improvements.
In the board’s final comments, Vice-Chairman Andy Dance appeared to oppose uniforms.
“All the statistics and data that we’ve thrown around are all conflicting,” he said, noting that direct correlation between dress and achievement remain tenuous. He called uniforms an “unfunded mandate.” He noted that the Education Foundation is already stressed and that the county would likely end up accruing excess expenses to aid financially struggling families.
Half of the ninth-graders at Flagler Palm Coast High School currently receive assistance in buying gym uniforms, he added.
“St. Johns County is consistently the top-rated district,” Dance said. “So let’s look at them and try to figure what we have to do to follow their lead.”
The board will make its final vote on uniforms at its Jan. 17 meeting.
THE BIG VOTE
The School Board will make its final vote on a mandatory district-wide uniforms policy Jan. 17.
Visit www.PalmCoastObserver.com and search “uniforms” to cast a vote in our online poll.
