Jeannette schools slip into dress code

When the Jeannette school uniform policy went into effect Monday, junior Evan Poole thought he was prepared.

Though Poole, 16, was wearing the requisite navy pants and blue polo shirt, his bright green belt got him called to the principal's office for a warning.

"I was like, 'I could take it off, but I wore it so my pants wouldn't fall down,'" Poole said, holding up a pink slip that read, "Tomorrow I will dress for success."

The Jeannette school board voted 5 to 3 in July to tighten the dress code for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, after directors said they were tired of students' overly casual outfits.

"The way kids dress nowadays, it's horrible," said school director Randy Highlands, who has a daughter in the high school.

Highlands said he voted against the policy in July because he believed the district needed more time to "work out the bugs," but he said he was happy with the way things turned out.

"It's a nice look," he said. "We're not punching them out of a cookie cutter, but everyone is similarly dressed. It makes for a nicer atmosphere."

Students were required to wear polo shirts, turtlenecks, sweaters or dress shirts in blue, red or white, with dress pants, skorts or jumpers in khaki or navy. Footwear was restricted to dress shoes, boots, or sneakers with blue, black, brown, red or white socks or tights. Belts were optional, but they had to be black or brown.

"We put together a number of items we thought were economical and would give them enough variety," school director Patricia Caralli said.

Students who were not properly attired Monday were given a warning, said Sharon Marks, the district's superintendent. Those who came to school without uniforms today are to be given in-school suspension. If they did not adhere to the dress code by Wednesday, they would be sent home and given one day's out-of-school suspension.

"Everything went fine," Marks said. "We had a few students who didn't comply."

Students at the high school reported that between 15 and 20 of their classmates were called to the office. School officials declined to provide a precise number.

District officials earlier said that families who had trouble affording the uniforms could buy them at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Jeannette. Other families were being helped by the elementary school parent-teacher associations, Marks said.

"We addressed each issue as it came up," she said, declining to give specific examples.

Some students said they had trouble finding the mandated clothing.

"I got it last minute, and everything was sold out," said Antonio Henderson, 18, who was able to find one red polo shirt. "I have to go out and get another outfit."

Other families had less trouble.

"It was a lot easier than buying regular school clothes," said Anita Westfall, who has two children at the high school and said the required clothes were available at J.C. Penney.

Westfall said she supported the policy.

"I think the kids look less sloppy," she said. "It looks more professional. I think it will give them more confidence."

Though district officials said they hoped the uniforms would boost student achievement, many students were dubious.

"They're talking about grades," said Kacie Blazowich, 15, "but kids will be suspended for having a nose ring in. How will that help them?"