New Dothan City Schools uniform policy approved

Dothan City Schools parents, get ready to do some shopping.

The city school board on Monday approved a school uniforms policy setting stringent new guidelines for students’ pants, shirts, shoes and outerwear. The policy goes into effect for the 2009 school year.

The city schools administration pushed the policy, arguing that a uniforms policy would cut down on disciplinary and social problems and promote school unity.

“I feel as a teacher and as an administrator, this would give us more time to spend on the teaching process,” said Sharon Kelley, Kelly Springs Elementary School principal. Kelly served on the committee that drafted the policy.
The policy was debated at length during Monday’s school board meeting.

Board member Gayla White opposed the policy, citing concerns of the financial burden it would put on parents to buy their children a new wardrobe. White also voiced opposition based on the realities of womens’ fashion, taking particular exception to part of the policy that requires girls’ shirts to be tucked in.

“Girls’ shirts are not necessarily made to be tucked in,” she said.

Board member Franklin Jones criticized the uniform committee for not having an adequate cross-section of Dothan residents.

Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Parker spoke in support of the policy, saying it reflected work force requirements.

“The reality is that in business 75 percent of employers have some sort of dress code,” he said.

Ultimately, the policy was approved on a 6-1 vote, with White casting the lone dissenting vote.

White was successful in amending the policy to include more color choices for student shirts. Students living in the Northview cluster can wear white, navy, maroon and gold. Dothan High cluster students can wear white, navy, red and black.

A disciplinary committee will meet later this year to establish how school administrators will enforce the new policy.
Rachel Logan, a Northview High School student, was disappointed by the new policy. Logan had presented the board with a petition signed by 72 students and parents opposing the uniform policy.

“I really don’t like it,” she said.

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The Dothan City Board of Education voted and approved, at its Nov. 17, 2008 meeting, a

mandatory uniform dress code for all K-12 students. All elementary, middle, and high school students in the Dothan City School System shall implement, within the guidelines below, the school uniform policy beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

TOPS FOR MALES AND FEMALES

Solid white, navy blue all students plus red and black (DHS cluster), maroon and gold (NHS cluster), button front oxford, polo, turtleneck, shirts/blouses with sleeves (long sleeves or short sleeves)

A small unobtrusive logo that can be covered with a quarter is acceptable.

All tops must be tucked in as part of the uniform. (K-lst, preferred but optional) V«-

Undershirts must be solid white or navy with no wording or pictures.

BOTTOMS

Males: Khaki or navy blue pants or shorts. Shorts must be no more than two inches above the knee and no more than two inches below the knee. Cargo pants or pants with pockets below the hip line are unacceptable, (corduroy fabric permitted)

Females: Khaki or navy blue pants, shorts, shorts, capris, skirts, or jumpers (corduroy fabric permitted)

All pants, shorts, shorts, and capris must be secured at the waist and cannot “sag”.

Shorts, shorts, skirts, and jumpers must be no more than two (2) inches above the knee in the front and back. Two inches above the knee or longer is the rule.

Blouses or shirts must be worn with jumpers.

Belts must be worn with pants and shorts that have belt loops.

Belts are optional for students in grades K-lst. 

Cargo pants or pants with pockets below the hip line are unacceptable.

KHAKI IS DEFINED AS LIGHT TAN IN COLOR.

SHOES

Tennis shoes (sneakers) and fully enclosed shoes (loafers, boats shoes, oxfords, etc.)

All shoe straps must be strapped.

All laces must be tied and the same color.

style and color of shoes should be sensible and appropriate for school attire.

Socks and hosiery (to include tights) must be of the appropriate colors of black, white, brown, or navy blue
Heels-no more than 2 inches in height.

BELTS

Black, brown, navy, in the appropriate length, small to medium buckle.

OUTERWEAR

Coats, jackets, sweaters, sweater vests and sweatshirts are considered as outerwear and must be worn with a uniform shirt/blouse. Sweater vests must be white, navy, or for high” school students, red (DHS), or maroon (NHS), (pullover or cardigan style) with no logo, belt attached or hood.  Sweatshirts must be white, navy, or for high school students, red) or maroon, with me collar of the top on the outside.  Sweaters, sweater vests and] sweatshirts must not be oversized (bulky or baggy).

Outerwear of school - sponsored organizations is acceptable, (athletic jackets, band jackets, etc.)

NorthFace and Racer jackets are examples of just two types of approved jackets.

Uniform tops must be worn under all outerwear.

All outerwear should either button or zip from top to bottom. 5 h «^’« t) e 16tf o pe f .

ITEMS NOT ALLOWED TO BE WORN BY STUDENTS

Wind pants/sweatpants, velour pants and tops, over-sized clothing, excessively tight clothing,
overalls, belibottoms, unhemmed clothing, clothing withjagsJjrtitsJJioles_or slashes, denim or
jean fabric, sleeveless tops, hooded sweatshirts, Overcoats, trench coits^>bicycle shorts,
leggings/stretch knit, or carpenter’s pants.  “

EXCEPTIONS TO THE STUDENT UNIFORM DRESS CODE

Students will be allowed to “dress up” for the following activities; however, if they do not participate in the “dress up” activity, the approved school uniform dress will be required.

School Picture Day and Spring Picture Day (All Schools)

Week of Dothan High School and Northview High School Homecoming Activities (theme Dress-Up Days)

JROTC Uniform Dress Days

Each school principal may periodically designate days or events (i.e. school picnic, field days, or spirit days) during which deviations from the approved uniform top will be permitted (uniform bottoms must still be worn) provided the principal determines that such exceptions will facilitate the event, promote school spirit, or otherwise serve an educational interest.

GENERAL INFORMATION

In addition to the uniform dress code requirements previously listed, the following guidelines will also apply.

1. All clothing must be properly fitted. Sagging and excessively tight clothing are prohibited.

2.  Sandals, slides, spocs, Heelys or any variations of Heelys are not allowed.

3.  Any article that draws undue attention or disrupts classes will not be allowed such as large jewelry.

4. Combs and picks are not to be worn in the hair.

5. Males and females are not allowed to wear hoods, sports headbands, or ear muffs inside the buildings. Bandanas and du-rags of any color are not to be worn on any part of the body nor carried in or tied on book bags, or other bags. -

6. Students who transfer from other school districts will be given five (5) days to come into compliance with the school uniform dress code.

7. A school or grade “spirit shirt” can be worn on designated Fridays with the approval’ of the principal. Uniform bottoms must still be worn.

8. Any student’s dress or personal appearance that the administration believes is disruptive and interferes with a safe and secure learning environment will be dealt with on an individual basis. School administrators will use their discretion to determine the appropriateness of students’ dress.