Norwich — Public school students will continue to wear uniforms for the rest of the current school year but might switch to a dress code not yet written for next year.

The Board of Education on Tuesday again wrestled with the question of whether to continue, alter or ditch school uniforms. A recent survey of students, parents and teachers revealed mixed results with students overwhelmingly voting to get rid of school uniforms.

The board voted 8-1 Tuesday to keep the school uniforms for the final three months of this school year and for summer school programs with Democrat Gregory Perry casting the lone dissenting vote. The board later voted to ask the Policy Committee to write a proposed dress code to start the 2022-23 school year.

The board asked for a new survey of students and parents on what they would like to see in a future dress code.

“I do not see a function of the uniform policy that is helpful,” Perry said. “I don’t see that it is helpful with the stated purpose of reducing bullying. It’s certainly not cost effective, at least for the people I talked to about it. I don’t feel that it creates any kind of sense of community. I think it’s just a burden placed on families.”

Several parents in the audience applauded Perry’s comments.

At the start of the meeting, Jessica Quay and her first-grade daughter, Cora, told the board that the uniforms are a burden and that this year, “hardly anybody is wearing them. It’s not enforced.” She said not requiring uniforms promotes creativity and individuality in kids.

“It makes us all look the same,” Cora Quay said. “Uniforms are boring. I like to be creative.”

Board members offered their own mixed opinions on the uniform policy, which has been in place since 2009. The policy requires students to wear blue or khaki pants, shorts, skirts or jumpers and no jeans, and blue or white collared button-down shirts or polo shirts. The policy was designed to enhance school pride and sense of community; reduce distractions, competition and teasing over clothing; and reduce clothing costs for parents.

Board member Christine Distasio said she would like to see adjustments to the uniform policy, such as requiring uniform tops but with no restrictions on pants or skirts, which she said students outgrow quickly and can be uncomfortable.

Board member Kevin Saythany, chairman of the board’s Policy Committee, said the current uniform policy has run its course. The Policy Committee recommended significant adjustments to the uniform policy and allowing dress-down days, celebration and spirit days, and student reward days.

Saythany said during the fall election campaign, he met with families at the Wequonnoc Elementary School and the Teachers’ Memorial Global Studies Middle School. Children told him the schools “feel dull and like a prison” because of the school uniforms.

“I believe it’s time for a change and to allow our students the opportunity to wear what they want within reason,” Saythany said, “to express themselves creatively, within reason. No political obscene or insulting messages on their clothing, nothing that promotes violence or promotes drug or alcohol use, nothing too revealing.”

He said if students do not adhere to the future dress code, the school board could revisit the issue and go back to a uniform requirement.

“I say we give the students a chance, and they might surprise us all,” Saythany said.

c.bessette@theday.com