Nazareth Area School Board strikes down 'universal dress code' committee proposal

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2012/08/nazareth_area_school_board_str.html FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES Nazareth Area School Board members rejected forming a committee to craft a universal dress code for the district. In an 8-1 vote Monday, the board struck down a motion by board member Chris Miller to start a committee made up of school board members and the public to research a new dress code policy. The motion had been seconded by Maurice Heller, who said he did so only to allow for a discussion by the full board on the issue. Miller initially brought up the topic during a July school board meeting, stating he feels better attire would give students a confidence boost which would lead to better test scores. Each of the elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools has its own separate policy and Miller proposed a single "universal dress code" for all the schools. "I am not in favor of, I am not pushing uniforms," Miller told the board prior to making the motion. "A uniformed dress code across the board ... there's a variety of things you can do with this." Miller went on to criticize the clothing of a female student attending a school board meeting last month and praised eight school board members for wearing dress shirts and ties. "Her short shorts ... didn't follow the dress code by any stretch of the imagination," Miller said. "I think we need to look at what's going on, our dress code. What's acceptable, what's satisfactory to everyone." Becky Bartlett, a mother of a student in the district, warned the board prior to its vote to be cautious of such a proposal. "I think you can spend your time doing other things," she said. Miller previously said he's seen boys wearing low, baggy pants, girls wear revealing clothing and both wearing pajama bottoms, sweats and flip-flops. He proposed boys wear button-down shirts in the winter or polo shirts in the summer, slacks and shined shoes. Girls would have worn appropriate skirts, blouses and shined shoes, according to his proposal District Superintendent Dennis Riker said he was unaware of any students in violation of the dress code policy, but said those complaints normally are handled by each school's administrators. School board member Robert Pinel said Miller was more about "enforcement" rather than a uniform policy.