Pleasant Valley School District’s new dress code comes up for a vote on Thursday night at the school board meeting.

The guidelines and a quick reference guide for student dress were posted on the district’s website earlier this week.

Superintendent James Konrad said the guidelines were created through a mixture of sources. The first source was parents.

Through his group meetings with parents, he said he listened to what they thought would be acceptable. Konrad said he also talked to the students and looked into the guidelines provided by other school districts to write the guidelines for Pleasant Valley.

“Our students were saying they felt like the emphasis is on what they are wearing, as opposed to what they are learning,” Konrad said.

The guidelines on the district’s website state that any student who doesn’t follow the new rules for dress and grooming will be asked to either change his or her clothes or be sent home to change clothes.

“We’re trying to be very understanding and accommodating to our students, but if our students abuse the opportunity, then maybe we get to a point where we say, ‘You know what? This isn’t going to be allowed. We tried it and it’s not working,’?” Konrad said.

So what are the do’s and don’ts of the dress code?

One biggie is fit.

Students are not allowed to wear clothing that is too big; nothing bigger than one regular size larger than they would fit them. No extra wide, full, long, baggy or sagging bottoms.

The clothing can’t be too tight on the bottom either, so no undersized bottoms.

To get specific:

• Bottoms: Jeans, khaki pants, athletic pants, yoga pants or leggings are fine. Just make sure the leggings are not tight. The waist of the garment has to be at the waist; no underwear showing.

As for skirts, skorts and dresses, they need to cover at least 75% of the thigh. And no cutoff shorts, as well as no holes in the garments.

Konrad said he knows some jeans are made with holes in them. That’s the style of them.

“As with everything, there’s gray (area),” Konrad said. “One of the things that’s concerning to me is the trend where you literally see the entire thigh, so let’s say a no on that.”

• Tops: Again no holes, rips, slashes are allowed. Shirts have to cover the shoulders, torso and midriff, so guys, don’t cut off the sleeves. Shirts are also not allowed to be tight or have low-cut collars, and girls, keep undergarments hidden. The hem of the shirt has to be below the waist line. Hoodies are fine, but the hood has to stay down the whole time while in school.

• Shoes: Sandals and clogs are fine as long as they have a back strap. Students must keep shoelaces tied and wear the same pair of shoes on both feet.

• Hats: No hats are allowed to be worn in the building, unless it is part of an announced school spirit theme.

• Accessories: no sharp edges on jewelry, gloves or belts.

There is also a list of what is not allowed on the clothing and jewelry, and it is detailed.

• Clothing and jewelry cannot promote or reference drugs, alcohol or tobacco;

• No apparel related to guns or weapons is allowed, and no apparel referencing weapons or violence;

• No clothing or accessories are allowed that are gang related, cult related, satanic, vulgar, obscene, or with profane pictures, sayings or gestures;

• Nothing with a slogan that has a double meaning, and;

• No political messages, as well as nothing referring to sex, sexism, or sexuality, and nothing with a message that is ethnic or racially prejudicial.

Basically, the students’ clothing should not present a danger to them or anyone else. If a student doesn’t follow the dress code, then it can result in disciplinary action.