Dundee parents: Review the dress code

Dundee parents: Review the dress code

DUNDEE—Some 31 parents and students attended the meeting of the Dundee school board Thursday, Sept. 12, where at least eight voiced their concerns about the new student dress code implemented for the 2013-14 school year. The new regulations bar students in all grades from wearing items such as tops without sleeves, half shirts, pajama pants or skirts or pants that do not come close to the knee to school or school functions.
Joy Perry said her daughter was pulled out of class because her top did not cover her shoulders, forcing her daughter to wait in the office until she arrived. She said this was “absurd and impractical” and left her daughter “badly shaken,” feeling as if she had committed a terrible crime. Perry said while she agrees with many aspects of the dress code, she asked the board to reconsider the part banning sleeveless shirts.
Jennifer Goodman also spoke to the negative effects of the dress code, saying her two children are not coming home discussing their schoolwork, but rather who got sent home for violations. She said her daughters have many collared, professional sleeveless shirts that should not be considered inappropriate. Goodman proposed forming a dress code committee consisting of school officials, parents and student council members to come up with new suggestions.
Quinn Sutherland also spoke about his daughter being sent home from school for violating the new standards. He said that same day, he saw a teacher whose skirt was shorter than his daughter’s. Sutherland said he does not believe students should be taken out of class for violations, as many of the classes they miss are required for graduation.
Board President James Koehler said the board is “very concerned about creating a good educational atmosphere.” He said the board had also “strongly considered” a uniform before deciding to implement the new dress code policy for this year. Koehler said the board will certainly reconsider the policy after hearing so many concerns and will respond to them in writing at a later date.
In other business:
• The board approved an agreement between the Dundee and Penn Yan Central School Districts for fitness equipment  with the Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant from Oct. 1, 2013, through June 30, 2018.
• Pamela Rapoza was appointed as the interim elementary school principal effective from January, 2014, to June, 2014. Christine Page was also appointed as the interim elementary school assistant principal from Oct., 2013, to June, 2014.
The next Dundee school board meeting is Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.m with a real property presentation at 5:30 p.m. in the public meeting room.

This article reflects the following correction—In the Wednesday, Sept.18 issue of The Observer, in the story "Dundee parents: Review the dress code," Joy Perry was mistakenly identified as Joy Carlye when talking about her daughter being pulled out of class.