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NewsFebruary 28, 2012

A controversial dress code proposal for Cape Girardeau public school students underwent heavy edits during a long meeting Monday night before its passage. The vote resulted in a new set of guidelines that will take effect in August.

Sheila Long speaks to members of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 with students dressed in polo shirts and blue jeans, from left, Allanah Long, Hannah Sadler, MaKayla Sadler and Jordan Long. (Fred Lynch)
Sheila Long speaks to members of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 with students dressed in polo shirts and blue jeans, from left, Allanah Long, Hannah Sadler, MaKayla Sadler and Jordan Long. (Fred Lynch)

A controversial dress code proposal for Cape Girardeau public school students underwent heavy edits Monday night from the district's school board but still resulted in a new set of guidelines that will take effect in August.

The Cape Girardeau School Board passed an amended proposal into policy on a 5-2 vote. Under the new policy, jeans will be allowed, as will school-oriented T-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as hoodies and turtlenecks.

Discussion over various amendments lasted nearly three and a half hours. Central High School principal Dr. Mike Cowan and junior high principal Carla Fee, who also acted as chairwoman of a staff dress code committee that wrote the original proposal, expressed frustration as the school board made changes.

"I think we are getting to where we're right where we were," Fee told board members as they discussed allowing students to wear hoodies.

The version of the proposal presented to the board called for students to wear collared shirts in any color; khaki, black or navy pants, shorts, skirts, skorts or jumpers; and required belts for students at the middle through high school levels.

While some guidelines did stay in place, board members proposed and voted to amend others in every portion of the policy, including portions covering tops, bottoms, accessories, spirit wear and discipline.

Board member Phil Moore voted in favor of some amendments but said during the process that "by the time we get done amending this thing, it's going to be a nightmare for the teachers."

Moore and board member Don Call both voted against approving the policy.

Under the new policy, students can wear collared shirts and turtlenecks in any color; school oriented-T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies; school-related logos and brand logos under one and a half inches will be allowed on clothing; and solid color dresses can be worn as long as they have sleeves and a collar or a high-crew neck. Jeans with embellishments and other designs can be worn but must meet some specifications along with other clothing, such as having no holes or tears.

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Parents who attended the meeting said they were happy with the outcome but wondered if all the discussion and arguing over the dress code in the past few months was worth their time.

"I am all in favor of a strict dress code policy," said Charlene Foeste, mother of an elementary student. "But we are back to where we started. I think they should have enforced the policy they had in place before we went down this road and put this division in our school system."

Superintendent Dr. Jim Welker said the district's policy on dress is now better defined compared to what was in place before.

Before the policy can become official, it must undergo review by the Missouri School Boards' Association.

Welker said administrators will be holding meetings with staff to educate them on the new policy and work on the processes for putting it into place.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau MO

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