THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604170187
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Denise Watson
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
The Chesapeake School Board took the following actions at its April 8 meeting: DRESS CODE
The School Board approved several policies Monday night including a new student dress code.
The old policy was simple - shoes must be worn at all times, no brief dress and no wearing hats in schools.
But the 20-year-old policy was due for an overhaul according to deputy superintendent William Russell, who lead a committee to revise the policy.
New guidelines include prohibiting dress or any type of apparel that represents gang membership or activity, is obscene, distracting or ``reflects adversely on persons due to race, gender, creed or intellectual abilities.''
The dress code will be effective next school year.
The Board also approved a policy that will allow the school system to provide services to special education students who are expelled or receive long-term suspensions for offenses not related to their disability. Chesapeake will retain educational responsibility for the students and receive 105 percent reimbursement from the state Department of Education.
Other options transferred the responsibility to the state and were not cost- or time-effective for the system, school officials said.
Next year's school calendar was also approved. NAMING SCHOOLS
In a 6-3 vote, board members changed rules governing the naming of schools, ditching a portion of the previous policy which allowed schools, other than a senior high schools, to be named after individuals.
Schools now will be named after their geographic location.
Board member L. Thomas Bray proposed the revision, describing the recent process for naming Cedar Road Elementary School as tedious and time-consuming.
A couple of board members countered that naming schools after worthy individuals should be considered and that the recent public hearings held for the elementary school were informative and necessary.
``I don't remember spending more than five minutes on the issue during the School Board meetings,'' said board member James J. Wheaton. ILLUSTRATION: DRESS CODE
Old policy:
``Extremely brief dress will not be permitted. Examples are: bare
midriffs, see-through blouses, short shorts, etc. Hats will not be
worn in school buildings. Shoes must be worn at all times.''
Revised policy:
The Chesapeake School Board expects all students to dress in a
manner appropriate for the promotion of learning. Student appearance
shall not be disrespectful, indecent, dangerous to health and
welfare of students, or disruptive to the school environment. Each
school shall be responsible for disseminating dress code information
annually in accordance with regulations established by the
superintendent.
Regulations:
1. Students will not be allowed to wear inappropriate clothes,
jewelry, or other apparel or personal belongings that advocate
violence, alcohol, and other drug use and/or distribution; that
represent gang activity and/or membership; that use obscenities; or
that reflect adversely on persons due to race, gender, creed or
intellectual abilities.
2. Students who wear revealing attire (such as see-through
shirts) may be removed from school.
3. Hats may not be worn in school building.
4. For reasons of health and safety, all students are required to
wear appropriate shoes when on school property.
5. Students whose dress is considered contrary to good hygiene,
distracting to other students, or in any way disruptive to the
learning process will be required to meet the school standards.
6. Prior to the end of the first month of each school year, each
local school will make available to parents and students school
dress code standards.
by CNB