No-Go for Uniforms at Marco Forster

Students at will continue to choose their own clothes to wear next school year—provided they meet the school’s strict dress code.

The  “fell far short” of the 75 percent participation required to make the switch to uniforms, said Principal Carrie Bertini.

Of those who did vote, the result was a 50-50 split, Bertini said. Pro-uniform factions would have needed to clinch 75 percent of the ballots.

Bertini has said that parents have been considering uniforms for nearly two decades. This was the school’s first vote. Had the referendum passed, the uniform would have consisted of navy blue or khaki bottoms, and white, red or yellow tops.

There are four elementary schools—including two that feed into Marco—in the  that require uniforms. No middle school in the district requires uniforms.

Participants included parents of current sixth- and seventh-graders as well as the incoming class of sixth-graders now spread throughout six elementary schools in San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point.