Advertisement

"We didn't just focus on one particular area," said DiCamillo. "We looked at three areas including the reason for having a dress code, what we wanted to see and what we didn't want to see."

She added there are five reasons for instilling a dress code in their school district. The first is for health and safety, the second is the students' need to learn to dress for different situations, the third is to not distract from the educational process, the fourth is for self-esteem and self-respect and finally the importance for overall dress that's appropriate for better productivity.

"Each reason is important in its own way," she said.

The new dress code policy states:

* All students to wear clothing appropriate for school.

* Parents need to see that students have acceptable grooming and dress prior to attending school.

* Shirts and blouses to cover the skin and not expose undergarments, cleavage, lower back and abdomen.

* Slacks, pants, skirts, shorts, sweatpants and warm-ups to be worn around waistline.

* Skirts and shorts to be knee-length and may be worn year-round.

* Students to wear foundation garments and under clothing that is not visible to onlookers.

Some articles of clothing not permissible include: clothing with obscene language, spikes, chains or sharp objects; clothing with tobacco, drugs, weapons or sexual innuendos; sweatbands or headgear; pajamas; slippers; sunglasses and clothing with holes.

"The rules and guidelines are now very specific," she explained. "We designed this policy so it'll be easy for staff to view offenders."

She added, "But we also tried to keep a balance in the decisions."

Students who violate the policy will be sent to the office where sweatpants and shirts are available for use.

"If the clothing available can't be worn by the student we'll make arrangements for something from home to come inÉbut you'd be surprised at how many of these kids have a spare change of clothes," said DiCamillo.

"We want to minimize the time away from class."

The dress code policy states, "students who continually violate this policy will face disciplinary action and the building administrator makes the final decision in any case.

DiCamillo added the policy is set for review in June 2009. "I think we succeeded in making this new policy as good as we couldÉand that was our goal."