Secondary level students in the Palmerton Area School District could encounter a more stringent dress code policy next year.

A special meeting of the school board on Monday to discuss the district's Dress and Grooming Policy resulted in talk of a potential dress code for the senior high and junior high buildings only.Students at Towamensing Elementary, S.S. Palmer Elementary, and the Parkside Education Center would not be affected by the potential dress code changes.Some of the proposed changes to the dress code policy would call for no flip flops, no noticeable underwear, no bare middrifts, no cleavage, no sweat pants, warmups or windbreakers, heels only up to 2-inches, skirts are to be knee-length, shorts are to be no more than 2-inches, and no holes in clothing, among others.The board held brief conversation on the matter of hair color, but no proposed changes appeared to have been made with regard to that issue.Director Tina Snyder reiterated the fact that she didn't believe there were any consequences stated anywhere for students who are in violation of the dress code.But, high school Principal Kathy Egan disagreed with Snyder's assessment."It does address inappropriate attire in the high school student handbook," Egan said. "We have a progressive level, so it does address it."Junior high Principal Thaddeus Kosciolek said the junior high has levels one through four as well to address consequences for students who violate the dress code.But, Snyder said the copy of a draft created by Kosciolek appears to be the same as earlier drafts reviewed by the board."I thought we had talked about being more stringent," Snyder said. "It seems like it's pretty much the same type of uniform, minus the colors."Director Darlene Yeakel said the district has to be careful."It gets difficult when we get so specific with certain colors," Yeakel said. "If we just say no, no means no."Director Carol Dwyer then asked Egan and Kosciolek whether they conducted any surveys with parents to get their thoughts on the matter. Egan and Kosciolek said that no surveys were conducted."I just think we need to firm up our policy," Dwyer said.Yeakel then suggested that student dress that promotes drugs, alcohol, tobacco and sexual material be unacceptable.Egan said hoodies should not be allowed because they are a safety concern as administrators have a hard time identifying students when they put their hoods up."It's a very time-consuming job," Egan said. "It doesn't allow us administrators to do what we need to do academically, instructionally."Dwyer said she understood Egan's concerns."I though educators were about teaching children what is not acceptable," Dwyer said. "I don't think we want to be that specific."Dwyer added that administrators shouldn't have to spend so much time on the matter."The main purpose is to make sure they're dressed specifically, and are not a safety risk," Dwyer said. "I don't want to decide what parents can buy their children."Superintendent Carol Boyce said she believes the dress code "needs to be specific enough that what's good for one family is good for all families."Towamensing Elementary Principal Gary Bruch said student dress code violations at his building are not an issue."There really is a difference between elementary and the senior high," Bruch said. "It's a different world."Resident Anna Strohl, a bus driver in the district for the past 41 years, said she would like to see flip-flop wear be discontinued."I think you're putting a big, big load onto their (administration's) shoulders," Strohl said. "If you would see what we see every day ...Kosciolek attempted to ease some of the concerns expressed by board members."Some board members seem like what they're hung up on is how we'll enforce it," Kosciolek said. "To me, the consequences are immaterial."Boyce then explained her next course of action."Through this discussion, I'll put something together for administration, and bring it back to the board," Boyce said. "My goal is to get it done by the July meeting."The dress and grooming policy was discussed at a board committee meeting earlier this month, when it was decided that a special meeting was needed to revisit the matter.Before that, the board in April held a special meeting in response to a request by junior high school Principal Thaddeus Kosciolek, who said he believed the matter needed to be revisited because instances where the dress code is violated continue to escalate.Kosciolek also said at that time he hoped the district would consider the adoption of a dress code similar to one adopted by the Tamaqua Area School District. He said Panther Valley and Pleasant Valley school districts have also adopted new dress codes.Larry Wittig, president of Tamaqua Area School Board, attended that special meeting to discuss the successful dress code that was implemented in the Tamaqua Area School District five years ago.Jim Thorpe Area School District last month adopted a new dress code for its students that will go into effect at the start of next school year.Kosciolek said that in instances where students are in violation of the dress code, parents are called and asked to bring in something else to wear. If not, the students are placed in in-school suspension, he said.High school Principal Kathy Egan said the school has extra Palmerton Blue Bomber T-shirts, which students have the option to wear. Egan added at that time that a current problem pertains to the length of shorts worn by girls in the high school, where she said about 50 percent are not in compliance.Based on the suggestions he heard from the committee, as well as the public who were on hand, board President Barry Scherer said the district will attempt to tighten up the policy, instill the consequences, and track the number of incidents.The committee also discussed the possible formation of a districtwide committee to review the policy at some point. Kosciolek then asked the committee for time to come up with suggestions to make the policy more specific.