Neither the school committee nor the junior high or high school principals expressed interest in pursuing mandatory school uniforms or a strict dress code at the Old Rochester Regional campus.
At the request of Marion resident Gary Powers, the ORR School Committee entertained an agenda item at its December 14 meeting to discuss a new uniform requirement. In an email to school officials, Mr. Powers said the recent exploration of a stricter dress code at Sippican Elementary School might be “a more appropriate subject” for ORR Junior High and School – where students face stronger pressure to fit in.
Mr. Powers explained his view of the positives, namely that uniforms would remove pressure to buy the latest and more expensive fashions, help maintain social equality, place less emphasis on looks and more on character, remove some distractions from study, and build team spirit.
Both Junior High and High School Principals Kevin Brogioli and Michael Devoll conceded that Mr. Powers made valid points, but neither felt the idea was worth further consideration.
“All the points are good points, but it would be a dramatic change in the culture of the building. There would be a push back from parents – and students, students, students,” said Mr. Devoll. He said the dress code already in place is difficult to police, and that the school nurse helps communicate to students when they are in violation.
For example, Mr. Devoll said students cannot wear spaghetti straps – but tank tops are allowed– thus enforcement can be tricky.
Senior Walker Fuchs of the Student Council took a moment to weigh in as well. “I can speak on behalf on the students and say they would be staunchly opposed to this,” he said. “It is a great thing we got, expression of oneself through clothing. It would be pretty much hated.”
Committee Chairman Peter Bangs – who is a high school teacher in another district – said there is validity behind Mr. Power’s message but leaned toward maintaining student expression. “There might be good reasons uniforms can be helpful, but you would have to balance that with student choice and the ability to express oneself,” he said.
The committee opted not to second a motion for mandatory uniforms, but Mr. Devoll agreed with committee member Robin Rounseville that the current dress code should be revisited.
In other items discussed at the meeting, Director of Food Services Caitlyn Meagher said a new policy the committee approved last month to get students to pay for their lunch debts is making an impact.
Last month, the committee voted to limit how much students can charge to their NutriKids account, a point-of-sale system that allows kids to buy lunch with a four-digit code. Essentially they had voted that any students who had more than three unpaid lunches could not charge an additional one, but would be offered a cheese or peanut butter sandwich and milk for 50 cents.
Ms. Meagher said many payments came in the first week the policy became effective, and now the $1,181 debt has been whittled down to “somewhere in the $800 range.”
She said no parents have complained about the policy, and that only a handful of students have taken up the offer for a cheese or peanut butter sandwich, but mostly they have declined. Ms. Meagher said she plans “to the more on top of the situation” for next year – including assuring eligible kids get on the free and reduced lunch program.
In other food service notes, she said the program continues to bring in a significantly higher profit than last year – with $8,490 for ORR this past November compared to $6,522 in November 2010. The program saw 647 additional meals purchased this October compared to last year, although October 2010 was one operating school day shorter.
Ms. Meagher said school lunch participation increased to 54 percent in October, but then dropped to 51 percent the following month. “I was a little too aggressive on new menu items, there were too many changes in one month. In December I plan to go back to more comfortable items,” she said.
In financial business, Business Administrator said that the Massachusetts Department of Revenue certified that as of July 1, 2011, $1,000,793 was the amount of excess and deficiency for ORR. Already $467,662 of these monies is committed towards this year’s budget.
Superintendent Doug White explained that E and D is like free cash for a town, and ensures that schools can handle unanticipated costs. The E and D amount is based on many factors, including ORR’s revenue streams from fees, School Choice, etc as well as revolving accounts, but the district cannot spend it until the state certifies it.
In other business:
• The school committee approved Mattapoisett-based New Beginnings as its contractor for snow removal.
• The committee formally approved a donation from committee member Thomas Shire of a framed copy of the United Nations Charter, as well as booklets containing the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Gettysburg address for distribution to ORR students.
• The board approved the acceptance of a $2,500 grant obtained by Director of Students Services Teresa Hamm for anti-bullying curriculum materials.
By Laura Fedak Pedulli