VALDOSTA— Valdosta City Schools elementary schools will implement school uniforms starting in the 2018-19 school year. 

The Valdosta Board of Education voted to approve Superintendent Dr. Todd Cason’s request for school uniforms for kindergarten through fifth graders at the Tuesday evening meeting. 

“When we read research it tells you that school uniforms definitely can help curve behavior, bullying and other incidences that we’re facing,” Cason said. “It’ll also provides a sense of unity.”

He said several surveys had been conducted prior to this request and there was a favorable response. 

“We feel very confident that our parents, teachers (and) community will be very pleased,” Cason said. 

The uniforms will match the VCS Wildcat color scheme with a white shirt, black shirt and yellow or gold shirt and khaki or black bottoms, Cason said. He said VCS will be talking with local department stores letting them know that VCS is looking for the best prices possible for the uniforms. 

Cason said he did not anticipate placing logos on the uniforms, and if so it would likely be a generic, non-school specific VCS logo due to the frequency of students moving schools. If implementation of uniforms cannot be done in a timely manner for the next school year, he said they can be implemented the following school year. 

With a three to two vote, the board denied a request to accept a bid for the Valdosta Middle School 16-classroom addition project from S.C. Barker Construction Company. 

The motion to deny the request was made by board member Warren Lee. In his motion, he voted not to approve due to unclear circumstances and discrepancies in regards to the procedure of the contract. 

Lee’s motion was seconded by board member Debra Bell. Chair Liz Shumpard voted along with Lee and Bell. 

Board members Kelly Wilson and Stacy Bush opposed the motion, and Tyra Howard abstained from voting. Trey Sherwood, Vannassa Flucas and Dr. Tad Mosely were not present at the May 8 meeting. 

The board voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2019 tentative budget. The official adoption of the budget will be voted on at the June 12 meeting. 

The board will meet again 7 p.m., May 22, at The Horne Learning Center, 930 Old Statenville Road. 

Kimberly Cannon is a Reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. Her extension is 1376.