LYNNFIELD — The School Committee discussed proposed changes to the district’s dress-code policy, which will be implemented ahead of the coming school year.
Committee member Jenny Sheehan presented the proposed policy. She said it is a first draft and the committee is still asking for feedback from principals and the public as its members continue to work on it.
She said the policy focuses on eliminating distractions, safety concerns, and anything disrespectful in the classroom setting. Violations of the policy will result in a series of consequences based on whether the student has previously violated the policy.
“The intent is to be fair and reasonable in all ways,” Committee Chair Kate DePrizio said.
Committee member Jim Dillon said although there is a district dress-code policy in place, there is no dress-code information in the district handbook.
He said principals were involved while the proposed policy was revised.
Committee member Jamie Hayman said the policy was recently changed around three years ago because it was “inequitable against girls,” and asked why there is a need to change it again.
Dillon said the proposed policy change has been driven by principals advocating for the prohibition of wearing hats in school.
Hayman said he is concerned about a policy item addressing “clothing that is revealing or overly exposes the chest, abdomen, genital area, or buttocks.”
He said prohibiting clothing that exposes the genital area or buttocks is a “no-brainer,” but that the inclusion of the chest and abdomen in the policy is “subjective” and he is concerned about the policy’s equity.
“The idea is to give teachers and administrators a tool” to address a student’s inappropriate and distracting clothing, Committee Vice Chair Kristen Elworthy said.
“If people are being targeted for what they’re wearing in an inappropriate way by high-school teachers, that is a totally different issue and we need to have that conversation about those teachers,” she said.
Hayman said the issue regarding inequitable and subjective views of the dress-code policy is mostly relevant to the district’s middle school.
He said he is unsure of how to manage the issue, but he is concerned about a possible disconnect between the dress-code policy and what a parent or guardian allows a student to wear.
The committee’s members agreed to work together to revise the language of the proposed new policy and will include a policy in the district handbook for this upcoming school year.
