Possible Dress Code for West Deptford Schools In the Works

A formal dress code for West Deptford students could be in place by the end of the calendar year, after the school board set things in motion this week.

School board President Christopher Strano called the idea something the board regularly includes in its annual goals, and said it was worth considering whether a dress code–though not necessarily school uniforms–could improve education.

“That’s the question we need to ask the community: Will the standard dress code improve the school system?” Strano said. “We’re going to have a discussion—I’m not saying we’re doing one thing or another. That’s really a community question.”

While dress codes and uniforms are sometimes seen as a remedy for problems with gangs or gang colors, or weapons in schools, Strano said he’s less concerned with that than the potential for improving the schools’ learning environment.

“We don’t have that problem…luckily, not today, we don’t have those issues,” he said.

Strano said it could potentially tie in with new bullying laws, however, and said that’s likely to be a point of discussion.

The board has considered the idea of a dress code in the past, though after a single, emotionally charged meeting several years ago, it was shelved.

“Times have changed a little bit since then–communication and outreach have changed,” said Strano.

Now, instead of putting it on one meeting’s agenda, Strano said the board’s motion Monday night represented the start of an action plan, which will involve input from parents, teachers and students in a variety of settings, from meetings to online surveys.

All of those will take place over the next three months, Strano said, with a decision potentially coming at the end of December.