After months of discussion about revising the dress code, the Carroll County Board of Education decided the biggest problem is in the enforcement of the policy “ not in the policy itself.

The current policy bans see-through mesh clothing; halter and tank tops; midriff-baring clothing; tennis, gym, bike or short shorts; and clothing bearing unacceptable or gang symbols. Head gear, shoes with cleats and sunglasses may not be worn in a school building. The policy also allows the principal to use his or her own discretion in enforcing the dress code.

After some debate about how detailed the policy should be, school board members chose not to add to it, deciding instead to have officials write a statement of support to school administrators letting them know that the board will stand behind their dress code decisions. Superintendent John Zauner, system official Christie Johnson and board member Dorothy Burton-Callaway would meet along with any other interested board members to write the letter.

Burton-Callaway was especially concerned with gang symbols, mentioning that some items of clothing she had seen students wearing at games could be seen as gang affiliation. However, Johnson, assistant superintendent of Administrative and Student Services, pointed out that the gang symbols are “a bit of a moving target.”

School administrators must deal with constantly changing fashions and fads, Johnson said. She suggested keeping the dress code general so that new trends can be dealt with by the school administrators as they happen, rather than bogging down the rules with specifics that may go out of style or change meaning in a short time.

“We are going to have to just be aware of these things ourselves,” Burton-Callaway said in agreement.

Zauner noted that the school administrators have dealt with clothing fads for decades.

“This is not a new issue,” he said. “We’ve fought this for a long, long time as local administrators in schools.”

The important thing is consistency, according to Zauner. For principals and teachers to fight this battle with students, they need to know that the board will stand behind them, he said.

“If we’re going to make it an issue, than the board has to support that as a whole,” Zauner said. “We may see them (students) up here one day talking about it, saying you’re taking away my personal freedom. And I’ve been in school systems where that’s happened.” The issue may become a legal problem if students and their parents decide to take the board to court, he said.

Burton-Callaway said she would like to see the dress code enforced not only during school hours, but also at after school hour activities, such as games.

“At any school activity, dress codes should be adhered to,” she said. “We’ll make it clear.” The policy should be easy to enforce, even at after-hour events, by turning students away at the door if they are dressed inappropriately, she added.