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North Albany Academy
principal Dale Getto thinks school uniforms are terrific.
“They put more of the
emphasis on education and less of the emphasis on what you’re wearing,”
she said.
This year marks the
school’s first foray into voluntary uniforms. Widely embraced by staff
and students alike, the school’s uniform consists of a royal blue shirt
emblazoned with “North Albany Academy.” Each child chooses what to wear
on the bottom.
North Albany, serving students in prekindergarten through eighth grade,
became the fifth district school to have a voluntary school-uniform
policy.
Others are Pine Hills
Elementary School, Schuyler Achievement Academy, Sheridan Preparatory
Academy and Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST),
each with its own uniform.
Starting in the fall,
Arbor Hill Elementary School will become the sixth school to have a
voluntary uniform policy.
Albany Police Officer
Kelly Kimbrough is the father of fifth-grade twins at North Albany
Academy. He’s a school-uniform fan, too.
“From a police
officer’s standpoint, a uniform does away with the issue of haves and
have-nots and the problems that causes,” Kimbrough said. “It’s a
no-brainer from a parent standpoint. It looks better. You have
uniformity. And I think it builds school spirit.”
Fretting over what to
wear to school is not an issue with school uniforms. They’re less
expensive, too, Getto said.
“I get a great deal of
pride when I look out and see a sea of blue. It’s dramatic how the kids
act and coalesce,” Getto said. “And they look great!”
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