Brooks Elementary School students tried on various combinations of navy, white, khaki and light blue uniforms Monday, as mothers looked on approvingly.

"They look so nice," said Kathy Holland, mother and teacher at Brooks. That was the overwhelming comment heard among parents and teachers, as Brooks set out to be the first Fayette County public school to endorse a voluntary uniform dress policy for the 1999-2000 school year.

Brooks principal Harry Sweatman said the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) took a vote, with the pro-uniform side taking 56 percent of the poll. "The PTO showed off the prices on a couple of the items, and you could not argue with the numbers; uniforms are cheaper," Sweatman said, comparing it with the type of clothing students currently wear.

School officials stressed that the uniforms are voluntary, not mandatory. Under current state education policy, officials said, schools can't require students to wear uniforms unless the schools are prepared to pay for them.

The students have the option of purchasing the navy jumpers, skorts (a skirted short) shorts, slacks and shirts with the school insignia from a uniform company or from area retailers who supply the generic navy and tan school clothing. Sweatman and his faculty and staff have been modeling the adult version of the uniform all year.

Sweatman believes the uniforms will be accepted more readily by students in the lower grades, with those in the upper grades more conscious of dressing in current styles. "We will have one day a week which will be a free dress day," Sweatman said, anticipating students' wishes to dress in fashion. Holland predicted her daughter's apprehensions about wearing the uniform next year will dissolve the first day of school when she sees so many of her classmates dressed similarly.

The subject of uniforms came up at the Fayette County Board of Education meeting last week when two parents expressed their desire for the board to endorse uniforms. Board members Connie Hale and Woody Shelnutt approved of the idea, and superintendent John DeCotis said he recognizes the benefits of uniforms and asked the parents to attend a meeting of the schools' safety task force, planned soon.

The majority of students attending Ruth Hill Elementary in Coweta County have worn uniforms for the entire school year and principal Nancy Royal said the experiment has been "very successful." "We plan to continue with uniforms next year," she said. Ruth Hill students have the option of choosing any combination of navy, khaki or white. Royal and her teachers have also adopted the uniform colors for daily wear.