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Students tell Bayonne board new uniform policy would burden families; petition with ~500 signatures presented
Summary
A Bayonne High School junior told the board that a proposed uniform policy would impose financial strain and limit self‑expression; he said a petition opposing parts of the policy has collected around 500 signatures, roughly 25% of students.
A Bayonne High School junior told the Board of Education that a proposed uniform policy could create a financial burden for families and would not improve safety.
William Blanchard, introduced as a junior at Bayonne High School, said the principal had framed the policy as improving school pride and safety but that students disagree. "New uniforms may incur financial strain on struggling parents," he said, and added that "anyone can buy the new uniforms and we already have IDs for our verification." Blanchard urged the district to invest staff time and resources into activities such as clubs, performances and field trips to build pride instead of enforcing a contested uniform policy.
He said seniors and other students had circulated a petition opposing the change and reported collecting "around 500 signatures, making up about 25% of the student population" affected by the change. Blanchard requested the board "take the student's voice into consideration when crafting the rollout of this policy."
The board thanked the student speaker. The transcript does not record a board decision on the uniform policy at this meeting; the item remained in discussion/public comment and may be subject to future administrative or board action.
