Cape school board approves some changes to dress code; does not eliminate jeans

During a meeting marked by debate that at times raised more questions than it answered, members of the Cape Girardeau School Board on Monday night decided that revising some of school district's dress code was better than not revising anything at all.

Ultimately, the board voted to accept cargo and carpenter shorts to be worn by students; to increase the length of shirts to the fingertips when standing at rest; and to accept an amended measure regarding coats and jackets. The board voted against the elimination of denim jeans in grades seven through 12.

"I would rather there be some changes than none at all," said school board President Stacy Kinder.

While the changes concerning the length of shirts and the allowing of cargo shorts was agreeable to board members, it was coats, jackets and denim jeans that caused the most contention.

The issue of coats and jackets was taken up first, and confusion soon developed about what was viewed as a jacket. Kinder said in addition to zip-up sweatshirt jackets, some students were simply wearing sweatshirts over a T-shirt and calling that a jacket.

"To think of a plain sweatshirt as a jacket is ignorant," board member Philip Moore said.

Board members did agree that what students wore as a coat or jacket must meet current dress-code guidelines for tops, and they also allowed for larger logos on brand-name hoodies and sweatshirt jackets. They voted to amend the proposed coats and jackets policy to read "coats, jackets, hoodies and sweatshirts worn inside the building throughout the day must be a solid color or school-oriented and may have a four-inch logo and must have an approved shirt underneath."

On the issue of denim jeans, Moore questioned whether allowing tight, skinny or sagging jeans was really that disruptive to the classroom process.

"Is that really the end-all, be-all issue?" he said. "It seems we'll be penalizing the vast majority of students who wear jeans properly because of the actions of a few."

Board member Don Call disagreed.

"We've been asked by administrators in the district's schools to get rid of denim jeans," he said. "They know the issues better than we do."

"But we're also elected by voters in the district who may have a different view," said board member Kyle McDonald.

McDonald offered an amendment to allow denim jeans to be worn in grades seven through 12, but it was not approved, receiving a 3-3 tie vote. Board member Lynn Ware was absent during the meeting.

When it came time to vote on whether the board would accept the entire proposed changes to the dress-code policy, the changes were not agreed to by the same 3-3 tie vote. Kinder and board members Call and Paul Nenninger voted in favor, and board members Moore, McDonald and Tony Smee voting against.

However, Kinder asked for a motion to reconsider, which the board approved. Kinder again brought the proposed changes up for a vote, which included the previous amendment regarding coats and jackets, the allowing of cargo and carpenter shorts and the lengthening of shirts to the fingertips. Kinder did not include the proposal to eliminate denim jeans in grades seven through 12. The board then voted to approve her measure, with Call abstaining.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.