By Steven Sandberg
 
December 7, 2009
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - Some Medford families think uniforms at high schools could help reduce gang activity.
 
Last month 17 Hispanic families sent a letter to the Medford School Board asking them to require uniforms at Medford high schools.
 
In the letter, sent November 18th, the families stated that their children may be at risk by wearing the wrong colors at school.
 
Red and blue are school colors at North and South Medford high school respectively. They are also the colors of prominent Hispanic street gangs that have been linked to recent violent attacks. A similar concern was raised in the 90s during a surge in gang activity.
 
At that time the school board decided not to move forward with school uniforms, saying their current policies on gang attire are effective.
 
"We have taken a very aggressive approach when we have students who are wearing things that are clearly gang affiliated. We have policies around that and we prohibit that. And that's really calmed down our campuses quite a bit in the last decade or so," Medford Schools Superintendent Dr. Phil Long said.
 
The families worked with faculty at North Medford High School to draft the letter. The families spoke with school resource officers about the uniforms, but were told the decision to require uniforms can only come from the board.