COVINGTON — Concern for student safety, a desire for a better school climate and concern over gang colors has led the site-based decision-making council at Holmes High School to institute a dress code for 2002-03.

        Mary Alice Parrish, a member of the school's decision-making council, said the group wanted the 10th- to 12th-graders to feel comfortable and not have to worry about wearing the colors of local gangs.

DRESS CODE

• Solid white, red or black shirts with collars and sleeves. Turtlenecks allowed.     • Shirts cannot have a logo unless it is a Holmes-sponsored club or school athletic logo.     • Tan or black pants, sweat pants and jeans; must be fitted at the waist and crotch.     • Tan or black skirts and shorts; should be no shorter than 4 inches above the knee.

        Holmes Junior High has already implemented a dress code.

        Teachers and parents narrowly favored the new dress code, but the students didn't care much for it, Mrs. Parrish said.

        “The students were definitely against it.

        “The only (students) who voted for it were the seniors who were leaving,” said Mrs. Parrish, also a child development services teacher at Holmes High School.

        “I think there's always a few that will test the waters but the majority of them will go ahead and comply.”

        Cullen Kennison, a sophomore at Holmes High School, said very few students favor the dress code because students express themselves by the clothes they wear.

        “I want to wear what I want to wear in the morning, not what someone sitting in an office wrote down for me to wear.

        “It should be my choice, not the school's choice,” the 14-year-old said.

        Principal Bill Grein said the dress code is designed to improve the school's climate.

        “Kids don't have to associate with a gang because of where they live if there's a school dress code.

        “It just allows the kids to focus on school,” Mr. Grein said.

        The principal said the dress code will also allow school officials to identify whether those on campus are students.

        Notes were sent home with students last week informing parents about the dress code.

        The site-based decision-making council at Latonia Elementary School is also considering adopting a school dress code for next school year, said Superintendent Jack Moreland.
       

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