PORTAGE | Uniforms for high school students could be on the horizon.

Portage Township School Board member Deb Ekdahl, who proposed the idea, said it's a concept many constituents supported when she was on the campaign trail last year, and she said it's a matter of safety.

"I'm talking khaki pants, polo shirts. I think fashion is out of control," she said. "I think we need to eliminate gang signs I see in the parking lot. I think we need to do it quick, too."

Ekdahl, a Hammond High School English teacher, said in the four years that school has mandated uniforms, behavior in the hallways and the classrooms has improved and students are taking more pride in their school.

"They feel like they're representing something bigger than themselves," she said.

Board member Cheryl Oprisko, though, said she needs to see more than anecdotal evidence before she supports a plan.

"Nobody has ever come up to me as a parent and said we've needed uniforms," Oprisko said.

While Ekdahl said she'd like to see something in place for the start of the next school year, Board President Terry Hufford said there would need to be dialogue with principals, teachers and community members before anything is considered.

"I think it might be a little premature for the (next) school year," he said.

Board member Bill Fekete said some of the current dress code policies aren't being enforced and that might warrant a first step. A big issue he sees is with students wearing hats, baggy jeans and hooded sweat shirts.

"I know they're wearing them in the buildings," Fekete said. "Ever try to see the face of a student when he has his hood up? You can't tell who you're looking at."