Othello schools to require P.E. uniforms

OTHELLO — Uniforms could become required attire for junior high and high school physical education students in the Othello School District.

The change is being planned for this fall, said Othello High School Physical Education teacher Pete Perez.

Perez and Parent-Teacher Association member Linda Towle spoke about the planned change to the Othello School Board Monday.

Towle said female students sometimes wear inappropriate attire to gym class, including "strappy" tank tops and tight shorts.

Uniforms cost $10 per set, from a company the schools are considering buying from. They include a T-shirt and poly-mesh shorts, which are 7 inches or 9 inches in length. Families would be responsible for the purchase.

Students caught wandering the halls during physical education class will be more easily identifiable if they are in uniform, Perez said.

"If we have the uniform on, the kid can't say, 'This is what I wore to school,'" he said.

Towle noted the company allows customization at no extra charge, or logos can be selected from the catalog.

The identical uniforms would promote equity at the schools, she said.

Students who forget their uniforms would wear loaner uniforms for the class period. The company offers uniforms with "loaner" printed on them in capital letters.

"They're not attractive, so they're not going to be as apt to leave their uniform at home," Towle said.

Board member Angela Kirkwood said she would like to see a different choice made for loaner uniforms, since she believes "loaner" sounds too similar to "loser."

Perez said he is approaching an Othello sporting goods store to see if they can match the price of the other company. The next task is to develop a logo, and then they will send information out to parents.

Perez said the uniforms are an economical choice, and Towle noted discounts for early ordering are available from the company.