Scott City committee to present 3 options on school dress code

They can go conservative or a little more whimsical, but the Scott City School Board will have three options to weigh Wednesday night when it considers the what-to-wear list for the district's new dress code.

The Scott City Committee to Study Student Dress Codes earlier this week pared down ideas into three recommendations -- conservative, intermediate and less restrictive dress.

"It was such a complicated process going through all of the items and trying to take the information we've received from committee members, students and the community," said Beth Cox, committee co-chairwoman. "We wanted to try to compromise and make sure everyone is being heard."

Cox will present the recommendations to the school board at its next meeting, slated for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in room 25 of Scott City High School. The board could move to adopt one of the options, or combine ideas from the three to establish what will be permitted student apparel under the district's standardized dress policy, approved last month. The dress code is expected to be implemented at the start of the 2011-2012 school year.

Under the more stringent list, approved shirts would be plain or solid colors, with logos no bigger than a quarter. All options mandate shirts must have sleeves and be collared and that shirts be tucked in. The conservative plan recommends students wear only khaki or blue pants, capris and shorts, and excludes blue jeans, Cox said.

Plan C, the more liberal dress code, would allow denim pants, pattern design shirts, and logos could be larger than a quarter. The jeans plan has raised some questions, however.

"There has been a lot of discussion whether to have embellishments on denim," Cox said. "Some community members are concerned that they have difficulty finding pants for girls that don't have embellishments on the pants legs."

Cox said the committee will provide the school board a pros and cons list on each dress option.

While the district works to put the code in place, Cox said one group of students is already leading the way. Scott City Elementary School's Honor Choir -- which demands members maintain good grades, exemplary attendance and proper behavior -- implemented a uniform policy this year. The students dress in slacks and long-sleeve polo shirts, which must be tucked in.

"They truly represent the school well," Cox said. "Our principal has said that when they go perform, those children have such pride. They are all truly unified when they're out there together."

Proponents say school uniform policies and dress codes promote school safety, improve discipline and enhance the learning environment. Critics argue the educational benefits don't pan out.

Missouri law says, "A public school district may require students to wear a school uniform or restrict student dress to a particular style in accordance with the law. The school district may determine the style and color of the school uniform."

Cox said the Scott City committee's goal was to come to some kind of consensus about what should be included in the district's dress code.

"We have a lot of opinions and points of view that we have to consider, and we want to give our school board the information they need," she said.

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