Changing classes in Dothan schools could be a lot different this time next year, and for the foreseeable future. Different by making students wear much of the same.

The uniform policy for all students K-12 includes a lot of navy and khaki, but officials say it's much more about substance than style.

"I think it's important that we have high expectations for appearance," said schools Superintendent Dr. Sam Nichols. “ I think we should have high expectations for behavior and that we have high academic expectations."

Principal Sharon Kelly of Kelly Springs Elementary and other committee members toured and spoke with school systems around the state who have implemented similar uniform policies recently before making final changes to their own policy.

"We saw what looked like a sea of cohesion,“ said Kelly. ”Everybody on the same page they looked really great they were working hard."

Students are working hard, but will the budget have to work hard as well? Kelly says no, early on in the process of examining plans the committee decided to avoid single vendor supply, letting parents buy their way to compliance.