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CHAPEL DRESS CODE UNDER FIRE

By Rick Joslin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:01 AM CDT

Superintendent Danny Knight said Wednesday that there should not be any confusion regarding the student dress code in the Watson Chapel School District.

Several complaints have been received by The Commercial from parents displeased that their children were found in violation of the dress code. In some cases, students were sent home to change clothes. In other cases, parents brought replacement clothing to the school.

A number of the parents said they were unaware of the clothing policy.

“There’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t be aware of the dress code,” said Knight. “The district mailed out letters on the code in May and again in July. And every student in the district was given the information to take home to their parents in May.”

The requirements were unanimously approved by the school board in April after a panel of parents, teachers, students and board representatives worked together in formulating the dress code.

“I had not had a single parent contact me with a complaint about the dress code until classes began on Monday,” said Knight. “The teachers and other administrators and I are going to carry out the board’s policies.

Knight said a television reporter had telephoned him in regard to a rumor that as many as 300 students had been sent home or expelled because of dress code violations.

“Only about 20 students have been sent home, and many of them simply changed clothes and were back on campus within 15-30 minutes,” Knight said. “One student was approached because he was out of compliance with the dress code. He began cursing and was accordingly suspended.

The code dictates that students wear the prescribed school uniform while in school, on school buses and at designated school bus stops, unless directed otherwise by their respective principals.

Students in kindergarten through grade 6 are to wear polo- or oxford-style shirts with collars. Either can be long- or short-sleeved, and the polo style shirts may have two or three buttons. Approved colors are white, light blue or burgundy.

Students in grades 7-12 are to wear collared, long- or short-sleeved shirts with two or three buttons. The approved colors are hunter green for junior high pupils and white for senior high students.

No cargo, stretch, sweat, wind or denim pants are allowed. Pants, capris and shorts worn by students in grades 7-12 must have belt loops, and black or brown belts must be worn.

Students will not be allowed to wear sagging pants, skin-tight or transparent garments, or tops with plunging necklines. Jewelry may not overlap any part of the uniform.

No scarfs, bandanas or do-rags are allowed. Sunglasses may be worn outside, but not inside.

Pullover coats or jackets are unauthorized. Coats and jackets may be worn over the uniform, but must be unzipped or unbuttoned inside buildings so that a uniform’s front is fully visible.

Copies of the dress code are available at each school.

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