VALDOSTA — There are several reasons the Valdosta City Schools administration and board approved a new uniform policy for elementary school students.

One reason is cheaper costs for parents.

“We believe this is something we can do that will help our students and families,” said Dr. Todd Cason, VCS superintendent. “You’ll find that it’s not as expensive for parents when they’re buying school uniforms as opposed to traditional clothing.”

Stores around Valdosta, including Old Navy, the Children’s Place and Walmart, are selling the approved uniforms for as low as $5 for polo shirts and $8 for khaki shorts.

For some families, though, buying a new wardrobe may pose a financial burden, according to some parents.

Roxy Corbett, Sallas Mahone Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization president, said uniforms she bought for her rising third-grader were comparable to other clothing prices.

She said she knows there are several Sallas Mahone students from lower-income families who are on the free-lunch program. Corbett said she wants to help.

“We do have children who come to school in hand-me-downs, so they can’t afford to buy all new clothes,” Corbett said. “You don’t want them to be the only child without a uniform because that defeats the purpose.”

The PTO has a plan. Through an application process, Sallas Mahone students may soon be able to receive free uniforms if they are in need, Corbett said.

This would include a week’s worth of uniform sets — polos and pants — and the application will ask for a gross income and an essay that should explain why a student needs the uniforms.

Approval of the applications will start with the counselors, who will pass it off to the administration. The PTO will give the applications one final glance before the approval is official.

Corbett said she wants the administration and counselors to be part of the approval process because they know the students and their home situations the best.

“We’re a pretty big family at Sallas, and we work really well together,” Corbett said.

Dr. Artrice Haugabrook, Sallas Mahone principal, said the future donation service is a great move by the PTO.

“We do have high-poverty students,” Haugabrook said. “So there definitely is a need.”

The uniform giveaway is still in the planning stages. The PTO won’t vote on it until its August meeting, but Corbett said she isn’t worried about it failing.

As soon as it’s approved, Corbett said the PTO is going to move quickly to review applications and get students their uniforms.

“That was good of the school to say that they wouldn’t punish students so that it gives parents time to provide their kids uniforms,” Corbett said. “As soon as school is in session, hopefully, we can get applications and get uniforms to kids.”

Stacy Bush, VCS at-large board member, said the board designed the policy so no students are harshly reprimanded for breaking the policy — but parents and students should still follow the rules.

“Nobody is going to be expelled,” Bush said. “No one is going to be hurt from this policy. We’re going to invite kids to learn. We’ve asked the administrators of all the schools to enforce the policy, but it’s not going to be punitive.”

As of now, the policy requires students to wear gray, white, yellow or black collar shirts and black or khaki pants, bermuda shorts, dresses and rompers.

Store monograms are allowed — the originally required paw print monogram is not mandatory — and belts are optional.

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.