Published: October 10, 2007 12:05 am      

HISD: Dress code will be enforced

As Huntsville Independent School District begins a new six weeks, school officials are reminding both students and parents that the dress code in place for the 2007-08 school year is still intact and will be enforced.

A letter addressing the issue was sent home with HHS students on Tuesday — signed by Huntsville High School principal Mike Lamb, Mance Park Middle School principal Beth Burt, Huntsville Intermediate School principal Angee Andrus and Huntsville Independent School District superintendent Richard Montgomery.

“As with any new school year, the first six weeks is a learning and adjustment period,” Montgomery said. “We want to make sure parents and students understand what our expectations are, the clarifications and that the dress code will be enforced.”

Montgomery said the administration’s focus is at the secondary level — fifth-grade through 12th-grade.

“We spoke to all high school students by classes on Tuesday and reviewed expectations and answered any questions they may have had,” Montgomery said. “The elementary and intermediate campuses will also be informed but we’re not certain in what format yet.”

Changes were made to the dress code last summer and Montgomery said everyone was notified through parent meetings, distribution of district handbooks and other typical events that take place at beginning of each school year.

These changes regard topics of facial hair, jewelry and shirt tails.

“Boys are now allowed to wear ear jewelry and have facial hair but there are clarifications put on these,” Montgomery said.

According to the dress code, any jewelry that distracts from the educational process is prohibited.

Also, all students have the responsibility to observe basic standards of cleanliness, modesty, good grooming and dress.

Due to safety concerns, students will be required to tuck in all oversized shirts or shirts intended to be tucked, according to the letter sent out by HISD administration.

“The shirt tail issue is for the purpose of safety and structure and we will be enforcing that as well,” Montgomery said.

“When you relax some of these rules, sometimes the perception is that they are completely done away with,” he said. “There is a constant issue of getting this information out to students and remaining consistent. Even as adults, sometimes we need to be told something more than once to get it — this is especially true if you’re dealing with children.”

Disciplinary action to be taken based on violation of these rules will be in accordance to the district’s code of conduct.

“The code of conduct is a legal document — a legal framework for rules — that the board of trustees adopts every year,” Montgomery said. “We have to rely on that code to put our handbooks and dress code in place.”

Assistant superintendent John DeBrock said on the first violation, students get the opportunity to correct the behavior.

“If the behavior continues, this becomes persistent failure to follow conduct rules and from there we look at further punishment,” he said.

Emily deMilliano, public information officer, said the goal of the district is to provide a quality environment for learning and is asking for the support from the community to do this.

“The students need to be dressed appropriately and ready to learn — and that’s going to happen,” deMilliano said.

If parents have questions regarding these issues, they can contact any campus administrator.

For a complete copy of the dress code, visit the district Web site at www.huntsville-isd.org or consult the district handbook.