Cape School Board keeps option to change dress code proposal

The Cape Girardeau School Board will look at the dress code proposal as a policy, allowing it to amend the proposal before a vote next month.

The board voted unanimously Monday night to incorporate the proposed administrative procedure JFCA-AP into proposed policy JFCA. The move was made so the board can consider all parts of the policy, superintendent Dr. Jim Welker said. If passed, it would require uniform dress starting next school year.

Procedures are developed and carried out by the administration without school board approval. Policies often contain procedures and are approved by the school board.

The district has been working with the Missouri School Boards' Association on specifics of the proposal and asking for recommendations on wording. The MSBA recommended to the district including a clause saying the administration could make changes to a board-approved policy so a board vote would not be required each time, Welker said.

Board president Stacy Kinder said the district has yet to make an official recommendation to the board concerning the proposed policy. A vote on the policy is scheduled for Feb. 27. The proposal as it stands was created by a staff dress code committee that included representatives from each of the district's buildings.

The committee made some changes to its original proposal last week. The first draft of the proposal would have required students to wear tops in one of four colors, khaki or black bottoms and tucked-in shirts. The second draft, which will be the base of the administration's final recommendation and can be amended by the board, would require students to wear long- or short-sleeved collared shirts in any color, and khaki, black or navy bottoms. Jeans would be allowed on school-designated "Spirit Days."

Blanchard reopening

Welker announced students of Blanchard Elementary will return to their school building Monday. A section of the school was damaged in a Dec. 6 fire that began in a teacher workroom. Classes have been held at Lynwood Baptist Church while the damage was repaired. Welker said staff of the school will begin packing at the end of this week in preparation for returning to the school.

eragan@semissourian.com

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301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO