Committee wants parental input on dress code

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Naugatuck High School junior Alida Maldonado, right, and her mother Cheryl Poirier speak about the school’s dress code to the Board of Education meeting in October. The Board of Education’s Policy Committee has scheduled an open discussion about the dress code with parents Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hill Middle School. –FILE PHOTO
Naugatuck High School junior Alida Maldonado, right, and her mother Cheryl Poirier speak about the school’s dress code to the Board of Education meeting in October. The Board of Education’s Policy Committee has scheduled an open discussion about the dress code with parents Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hill Middle School. –FILE PHOTO

NAUGATUCK — School officials want to hear from parents about potential changes to the dress code.

The Board of Education’s Policy Committee has scheduled an open discussion about the dress code with parents Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hill Middle School.

The discussion on what to do about the dress code came before the Board of Education earlier in the school year after some Naugatuck High School students complained that they were being unfairly targeted for what they wore.

“What appears to go on at the high school is this rampant inconstancy when it comes to the dress code regulations. What is deemed legal for by one teacher is considered illegal to another teacher,” said Cheryl Poirier, a parent, during the board’s October meeting.

Poirier’s daughter, a Naugatuck High School student, ran afoul of the school’s dress code when she wore yoga pants to school, even though they are not specifically banned by the code.

Scott Slauson, the chairman of the committee, said that the committee has not made any decisions yet on revisions to the dress code. The committee will wait until it has heard from all parties involved before coming to any decisions.

“This way we get input form all three and don’t jump into any conclusions without hearing from everybody,” Slauson said.

The committee met with students in December and with teachers this past week.

All options for Naugatuck High School’s new dress code are still on the table.

Slauson said the committee has not ruled anything out.

“We’re trying to get uniformity and clarification one way or the other for the dress code. Make it easier for students to follow,” Slauson said. “We aren’t saying were going to do uniforms and were not saying we won’t.”

Slauson explained that the committee is also looking into the dress code for students in seventh and eighth grade that would be similar to the high school’s, so it would be an easier transition when the students reach the high school.

Slauson doesn’t expect the committee to be ready to make a recommendation to the board during its February meeting.

However, regardless of when the committee makes it recommendation, the policy changes will not go into affect until the next school year, Slauson said.