Inter-Lakes High School's controversial dress code revised

Inter-Lakes High School has developed the draft of a dress code that seems to satisfy both administrators and parents. A more restrictive code was briefly enforced at the beginning of this school year, but was scuttled after parents criticized the policy at the first School Board meeting after the first day of school.

The revised dress code was compiled as a result of two workshop meetings, one on Sept. 18, which featured both parents and students, and a following one on Sept. 30 of mostly students and one parent.

The draft that resulted is based on the dress code for the district's middle tier of grades. The draft states that "Parents are expected to see that their children are clean, neat and appropriately dressed for school. Students are expected to participate in all aspects of the school program and should, therefore, be dressed appropriately for the season."

Prohibited in the draft is clothing "that may prove distracting or offensive to the general school population." Students may not wear clothing that is revealing or that presents vulgar language, sexually explicit themes, or words or pictures promoting alcohol, drugs or violence.

Guidelines for modesty laid out in the code prohibit shirts that expose the "midriff", "tube tops or tank tops that have straps smaller than one inch for girls and tank tops for boys. Underwear should not be showing. Skirts and shorts should be of moderate length covering mid thigh while sitting down."

If a student is thought to be in violation, that student will be asked to see the nurse. Parent contact will be made, according to the draft, and the student will be asked to change into a school-provided T-shirt, basketball shorts or sweatpants, and return to class. Chronic offenders will be referred to Assistant Principal William Athanas, who could choose to discipline the student through detention, assignment to the restriction room, or give the student a detention.

The short-lived dress code policy that was shot down by parents after the beginning of the year required students to be covered from shoulder to shoulder and collarbone to knees. The code was re-written over the summer by a small group of parents working as one of a the School Improvement Action Teams, which have addressed many issues brought forward by concerned parents over the past year.

Kennelly, at school board meetings held in September, said the previous school's dress code was not enforced because, in her view, teachers were not comfortable with confronting their female students, particularly about displays of breast cleavage.

Connie Bickford served on the Student Management/Discipline Committee, the one that wrote the more restrictive dress code. "I think our dress code needs to help students be focused on academics, less distracted, and present a positive image of Inter-Lakes Schools." She feels the revised draft accomplishes that goal, and agrees that a change was necessary. "A lot of the girls, mostly, were very inappropriate — the issue was showing way too much cleavage."

In an e-mail sent out by Kennelly, she outlines the draft and states that she will continue to accept feedback on the matter and hopes to post a version on the school's website next week. Finally, a Parent Council meeting is scheduled on Oct. 19 where yet more comments and amendments could be made. She said in the email that she hopes to implement the code on Oct. 20.