Published Thursday, June 17, 1999 School directors Wednesday talked about starting a uniform dress code for all students that would require students to wear specific clothing to school such as khaki pants and collared shirts.
A dress code, revised in August 1997, banned things such as baggy or droop pants, bare midriffs and anything deemed sexually explicit or that advertises alcohol. Directors considered a uniform policy at that time but opted for a stricter dress code.
But school Director Kathy Hall, who supported a uniform dress code in 1997, said the policy is not working.
"We need to get the attention off of the way some students are dressing and back to education," she said.
School director Amity Messett researched the subject and brought it up for board consideration.
"The more and more I read about this the more I felt it was definitely for our district," she said. "I don't see anything negative about this. For every negative I could think of a positive."
Ms. Messett said she spoke to some students about the policy and they express a fear of losing a form of self-expression.
"My comment to that was they can express who they are through academics, clubs and on the field," she said. "To me the clothes you wear shouldn't determine who you are."
Superintendent Richard Rossi said the board could begin looking into a uniform dress code and in the meantime tighten the existing one.
"There's a lot of information out there for and against," Rossi said. "If it's a fit for Sharon I don't know."
Rossi proposed a committee of community members, administrators and board members to study the issues. Mrs. Hall, Ms. Messett and Director Nick Morocco will serve on the committee.
They are also considering polling parents to get their views on the subject. A survey of parents two years ago showed that about half were in favor of a uniform dress code. Both Rossi and Mrs. Hall predicted that the results today would be much higher in favor of the uniform dress code.
Rossi and several board members said they thought the district would not be able to pass a uniform dress code by the 1999-2000 school year
"I would think that any thought of doing this should be for the following school year," said the Rev. John Trojak, school director.
But Director Dominick Russo said parents have not begun their back-to-school shopping and it is possible. He also suggested beginning the policy in January if they couldn't enact it by August.
Arguments for uniform dress codes include school pride, learning to dress for the business world and cost. Uniform dress codes are reported to save parents money because it takes away the name-brand labels kids use to stereotype each other, Ms. Messett wrote in a prepared statement.
A dress code would also allow employees to easily identify intruders in the building, she said.
