Dothan’s school uniform proposal coming along

A draft of a school uniform policy for Dothan City Schools is progressing and could be presented to the school board in a few weeks.

The Dothan City Schools School Uniform Dress Code Committee is drafting the policy and is expected to present it to the board in November.

The draft proposal the committee is considering currently includes the following:

Shirts: Approved shirts are solid white or navy shirts. Also approved are maroon and gold shirts or red and black shirts, depending on whether students live in the Dothan High School or Northview High School cluster.

Shirts can be oxford, polo, turtleneck, mock turtleneck or button front dress style. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed.

Small shirt logos no larger than a quarter are acceptable, but no patches or homemade logos are allowed.

Shirts must be tucked in, although students in kindergarten through the second grade are exempted from this rule.

Pants: Khaki pants, shorts, skorts, capris, skirts or jumpers are acceptable.

Saggy britches are a no-no and all short pants or skirts can be cut no higher than two inches above the knee.

Shoes: Tennis shoes and fully enclosed shoes are acceptable. Flip flops and sandals are out.  Socks have to be black, white, brown or navy blue.

Belts: Belts must be black or brown. No large buckles are allowed. If your pants have belt loops, you have to wear a belt.

The draft proposal can be amended between now and when the committee is expected to make a recommendation in November. Several members of the committee went to Troy on Wednesday to see how a school uniforms policy is working there.

The Dothan City School Board created a committee of parents, students, teachers and administrators to look into a uniforms policy in July. Board Chairman Steve Stokes has strongly supported a uniforms policy, saying it would improve student behavior, reduce problems with cliques and create a more positive public perception of the city schools.