Published: August 20, 2008 11:18 am         

Dress code revised

Some students locked out of class Friday

More than 50 students were locked out of Rowan County Senior High School Friday morning because they were not dressed properly, according to several parents.

After parents complained, the school board reconsidered its dress code.

“I think it was a misinterpretation of the policy,” said Superintendent Marvin Moore. “It was all straightened out Friday morning.”

“I talked to the high school principal (Mark Murray) and asked him to look for the interpretation of the policy that they put in place,” Moore said.

The policy was re-evaluated and school officials took care of the parents’ concerns, Moore said.

Students can now have patches on clothing as long as skin does not show. Frayed clothing also is allowed.

Greta Poe and Dawn Warren were two frustrated parents who sent clothing for their children to change into Friday morning after the lockout, but school officials refused.

“They do not want kids to come to school looking like vagrants,” Poe said, as she held up her daughter’s jeans.

Poe said she offered to put patches over the holes in the jeans but school officials refused that as well. She said the students could not have frays on their jeans either.

“They are brand new,” she said. “They said I had to buy all new clothes. I swear I do not believe it.”

Poe added that jeans with holes in them are a current style preferred by a lot of students and that’s just about all that’s available in stores to buy.

“My son changed once and they said the pair I bought him were unacceptable but they would let him wear them (Friday).”

Warren said the whole ordeal was stupid because parents had to miss work because of what their kids were wearing.

“The student discipline code book says no spaghetti straps or holes,” Warren said. “If they want to be so strict, they should buy uniforms for them. They are nit picking.”

Warren said some students were sent home Friday because of the way they were wearing their hair.

The Rowan County Senior High School Student Discipline Code for 2008-2009 says inappropriate school dress is any style of clothing that would be disruptive to the educational process or the safety of others. Hair, clothing and /or accessories must not impede vision or movement, which may lead to unsafe conditions for the individual or others, according to the policy.

The codebook discusses the following policy on shirts, blouses, and tops:

1. No mesh shirts, spaghetti straps, see-through material, tube tops, halter tops tank tops or holes;

2. No shirts depicting pictures, language, statements or graphics that are obscene, racially or ethnically offensive, or pertain to drugs, alcohol, tobacco or sex, whether blatant or implied;

3. No shirts or blouses that are too short to cover the stomach and back at all times, must be able to be tucked in;

4. No sleeveless blouses or shirts;

5. No tight fitting shirts are permitted and proper undergarments must be worn.

The policy on pants, shorts and skirts is as follows:

1. Waistbands of garments must be worn above the hips with no undergarments showing and no holes permitted;

2.No tight-fitting shorts, pants, skirts are permitted and proper undergarments must be worn.

3. Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than 4” above the knee;

4. No inappropriate language or graphics

5. No pajama type pants or shorts.

Warren said Monday she had spoken to a board member over the weekend and that the clothing issue had been resolved. Patches can be sewn over holes and frayed areas are OK as long as skin does not show, Warren said.