Cape school board relaxes student dress code

The Cape Girardeau School Board on Monday relaxed the district's dress code and approved its budget for the 2015-2016 school year.

The board discussed dress code changes recommended by district officials during a study session, then approved the changes with a 5-1 vote at its regular meeting.

The changes allow students to wear shirts with designs -- such as striped or plaid patterns -- instead of allowing only solid colors.

Shirts with brand-name logos also will be allowed.

Students previously were allowed to wear logos on their shirts only if they were approved Cape Girardeau Public Schools logos or logos 1 1/2 inches or smaller in diameter.

With logos now allowed, the board also approved an addition to the code that says: "Clothing with objectionable language, suggestive messages or illustrations are not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, images or messages that contain references to profanity, weapons, alcohol, tobacco or drugs."

Board member Don Call was the lone vote against the changes, saying the dress code was straying too far from original requirements set by a committee. Other members said relaxing the requirements would save time spent enforcing the code.

The changes will be effective beginning this fall. The requirements for pants, bottoms, accessories and spirit wear were not amended.

Superintendent Jim Welker said administrators wanted to decide dress-code changes early so parents would have plenty of time to prepare and updates could be made to handbooks.

A summary of the dress-code requirements will be sent to parents, he said.

Also at the study session, Neil Glass, assistant superintendent of administrative services, walked the board through the budget.

The budget includes total revenue of $64,017,640 and expenditures of $68,902,431.

The district expects to start the new fiscal year with $18,637,312 in its beginning balance.

District officials said the budget is "nearly balanced," and the higher level of expenditures reflects the 2015 bond series. Without the bonds, the estimated revenue subtotal is $53,971,025 and expenditures subtotal at $54,112,252.

The budget includes an increase in assessed valuation of 4 percent based on reassessment year trends, Glass said. The district also expects to see a "very slight" increase in state funding.

The expenses reflect an average 2.5 percent increase in salary schedules, approved by the board in May.

Local property taxes make up 54 percent of the district's budget, with state appropriations at 17 percent, other sources at 16 percent, federal funds at 11 percent and county dollars at 2 percent.

In other business:

• The board approved lunch prices for the 2015-2016 school year. The rates will remain the same, and breakfast will continue to be offered at no charge to students at all grade levels.
• The board authorized the superintendent to negotiate a one-year contract for 2015-2016 to Bimbo Bakeries USA for delivery of bakery and bread products.
• Prairie Farms Dairy will continue delivering dairy products to the district. The district requested bids from three companies, officials said, but Prairie Farms returned the only completed bid.
• The board also approved an agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Girardeau that allows the club to use Cape Central Junior High School's facilities for programs and activities when needed.

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

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