Local School Floats Dress Code Idea

Educators at , a K-5 bilingual school in San Mateo, say a manadory dress code would promote harmony at the school, and a survey has indicated overwhelming support for the idea among parents there.

But some district board members expressed a "philosophic issue with the proposal" during a San Mateo-Foster City School District meeting Thursday night in Foster City.

The dress code proposed would allow either white or blue shirts, a Fiesta Gardens shirt of any color, or a shirt from any college across the nation -- in keeping with the school's mission to promote higher education. Pants and shorts would also be allowed.

Fiesta Gardens is a kindergarten-through-fifth grade Spanish-English language immersion school, where students are initially taught primarily in Spanish, then English is progressively introduced until it is used in half the lessons by fifth grade.

Rebecca Smith, the school's site council representative, said research shows that school dress codes help reduce distractions in the classroom, as well as reduce bullying, among other positive effects.

And while school board members agree with the potential benefits, two members voiced reservations about the possibility of stifling students' creative expression.

"I have a philosophic issue with this proposal, and that is that I believe it's not the place of government to tell people what to wear," said board Chair Mark Hudak.

Hudak said he believed that when it comes to reducing bullying, the school would be best served by teaching better interpersonal communication skills, rather than imposing dress limitations.

Trustee Ellen Mallory Ulrich agreed, and suggested that should a non-mandatory dress code be implemented.

Smith and school Principal Sheila Spieller said they would consider that possibility, but Smith also suggested that if children wish to express their individuality, they should do so outside of school.

A survey presented at the meeting showed that 85 percent of Fiesta Gardens parents support the idea of a dress code there. The school's survey found that 221 of surveyed parents supported the idea of a dress code, while only 23 said they opposed it.

Of the 23 who didn't like the dress code, seven cited cost or enforcement concerns, and four feared their child's freedom of expression may stifled.

Smith said the dress code was formed in an effort to not impose an unnecessary financial burden on families. A district report indicated the cost of dress code clothing should be about $10 to $14 for pants, $9 to $16 for shorts and $5 to $9 for Fiesta Gardens shirts.

Smith also said that if students are not able to, or elect not to, comply with the dress code, a school clothing locker will be built through donations to provide dress code-appropriate clothes on the campus for students to change into.

"There is an overwhelming consensus at the school in support of the dress code," she said.

No decision was made at the meeting, but the item will come back for action on April 21.

In other business at Thursday night's meeting, Superintendent Pendery Clark announced that district Chief Business Officer Micaela Ochoa will resign at the end of this month.

Ochoa is taking the position of Assistant Superintendent of Business Services in the Fremont Unified School District in Fremont. She has been this district's top financial administrator since 2005.

She will continue attending the district's board meetings throughout the end of the school year, and will work with the district in a limited capacity.

"Micaela is an extremely caring individual ... and she has been instrumental in getting us through some very difficult times," said Clark. "She has done a lot to ensure the district is on solid financial footing."

"We will miss her professionally, we are happy for her, and wish her the very best," said Clark, who presented Ochoa with flowers from the district staff as a token of their appreciation.

Clark has already announced her own retirement in January.