School Uniform Changes Get First Passage

The Woonsocket School Committee gave initial approval to some slight changes in the public school uniform policy Monday night, adding capris pants for girls and black shirts to the list of clothing items that may be acceptable for fall.

Committeewoman Linda Majewski said Uniform Subcommittee decided sweatshirts sold by the athletic department may be also acceptable on some occasions, though they were not being added to the official Readiness Policy.

"If they're making every effort to wear the dress code and they're cold in their 5th period block and they want to put a sweatshirt on and they're wearing the school sweatshirt- we're allowing that," Majewski said.

The policy has been controversial since its implementation last year, with varying reports on compliance and a challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union which was eventually dropped. In April, the lawyer working on the case, Attorney John Dineen said the were because it did not appear that the policy was being enforced. 

Middle School Principal Dr. Patrick McGee told the committee that compliance at his schools, though initially at 97%, decreased over the course of the school year.

"Personally I think something that would be very helpful for us would be to sit down and figure out why," McGee said. The principal said his schools would not send kids home for lack of compliance, but would call the parents and announced the policy daily to students over the loudspeaker every morning.

Committeewoman Vimala Phongsavanh asked if the schools were getting any new tools for enforcement. Students are not currently suspended for being out of uniform and on occasion, can secure waivers with the help of their parents for reasons of health, religion or free speech.

"Like anything new, I think there's going to be kids that test the limit. I think adding capris pants and a different colored shirt will help. Black shirts are much easier to find," said Majewski.

The committeewoman said that sweatshirts with hoods and zippers were not approved as part of the official policy out of concern for potential distractions.

"Kids will put the hoods up and you can hide things in there, including IPods," she said.

Asked if she was concerned that some parents might find the sweatshirt rule too vague, Majewski responded, "the goal is that they're ready for school and ready to learn, not that they are exactly the same."  

The changes must make a second passage by the School Committee before they are approved for fall.