Dress code raises eyebrows
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

SARAH YOUNKER

The Student Code of Conduct in the Greencastle-Antrim School District is under review and part of that is the dress code. School board members heard arguments about a possible change for secondary school students at the April 3 meeting.

Based on recommendations from a Discipline Review Committee, high school assistant principals Kevin Carley and Ron Powers suggested the necklines of garments be raised. Currently the code only requires clothing to be modest.

"It causes us, especially males, difficulty addressing necklines," said Powers. "It's embarrassing to discuss with a female student with a different definition of modesty."

A more specific directive would be that necklines not exceed three inches below the top of the collarbone.

Director of Secondary Education Bob Crider said no one would be standing at the door in the morning checking the students. Instead, if a teacher during the day saw a problem with a neckline, the student would be sent to the office and an administrator would measure the distance with a 3x5-inch index card.

The committee that came up with the idea consisted of parents Angie Houpt, Sarah Younker, Lisa Crawford, Kathy Crider, Brenda DeYoung and Mary Ward, students Kaytie Johnson and Ray Hess, teachers Daphne Murray, Karri Hefner and Adrian Martin, athletic director Vicki Ritchey, administrators Mark Herman, Ed Rife and Bob Crider, and school board members Kristy Faulkner and Mike Shindle. They met for two-and a half hours with facilitators Chris Reiber, Missi Shuey and Maria Tucker, all assistant principals.

Board member William Thorne asked if teachers would follow the same dress code. Crider responded that they are expect- ed to meet or exceed the student dress code and it will eventually be a part of their contract.

Younker addressed the board, stating she personally preferred a 4-to-5 inch allowance. The threeinch gap eliminated much of girls' wardrobes and they would have to buy new clothes.

She referred to her own neckline.

"I don't think this is out of line for high school. It is conservative but in style too."

The school had posted a survey on the issue on its website and sent a notice home with students. She said many parents never saw the note or it arrived after the survey was taken down. The school put it back up April 5.

Based on the limited response it did receive, 77 percent of faculty thought the dress code should be changed, compared to 60 percent of parents. Eighty percent of faculty favored the 3-inch requirement, but only 54 percent of parents did.

Thorne preferred the index card be turned around and the 5- inch side be used to measure. Howard Ritchey was willing to make a change of some sort.

"If there is a big problem we have to do something about it."

The board did not take a vote that night.

Other changes

A number of other changes were recommended for student policies. For the high school they were:

Theft be added to the list of most serious violations.

Tardies be paired with unlawful absences for the consequences assigned.

Water in clear plastic bottles with lids be allowed in classrooms.

Permission to use electronic equipment (cellphones, iPODs, etc.) only be given by administrators.

Use of other students' planners be a minor violation.

Obscene gestures be considered a serious violation like obscenities, possibly resulting in a disorderly conduct citation.

Loss of school parking privileges become a disciplinary measure.

Moving ahead of other students in the lunch line or saving spots at tables be prohibited.

At the middle school level the recommendations were:

Clarifying acceptable and unlawful absences and tardies.

Shift unapproved use of electronic devices to a Level 2 offense instead of Level 1.

At the primary and elementary school level, changes were mainly in rewriting the handbook into easier language, and defining who administers discipline at each level. A weapons policy would also be added.