Who wears short shorts? Who wears short shorts? (September 17, 2004)

Not PUSD students
by Teresa C. Brown

Just as there are appropriate dress expectations in the workplace, so there should be for school, said officials Tuesday night.

"Students should dress up for school differently than on Saturday," said school Superintendent John Casey at the school board's regular meeting.

In a second discussion about the Pleasanton Unified School District's dress code, trustees agreed that students should dress differently for school than they would in their spare time.

"I think we need to remind students that school is a student's workplace," said Trustee Juanita Haugen.

"We believe school is a special place," Casey said, explaining that the district staff was "upgrading" the current dress code.

In trying to accommodate events and activities occurring outside the regular classroom hours, the board agreed that the code modification should have one section addressing expectations during the school day, and a separate part addressing those special activities. The special event section would give school administrators the latitude for exceptions as they see fit for the event.

Among some of the changes in the code are specific guidelines that students' clothing must conceal undergarments as well as breasts, midriffs, buttocks and the torso at all times.

Other restrictions include shoulder straps, which must be wider than 1-1/2 inches, and forbidding sagging pants and torn or tattered clothing.

Girls will be held to an old standard: with arms dropped to the side, nothing can be shorter than the wearer's finger tips.

Cleavage vs. no cleavage was also discussed.

"We need to say 'cleavage' if we don't want to see it," said Trustee Kris Weaver of the policy restrictions. "I think we need to be clearer if we don't want to see it."

"We spent hours talking about this," Casey replied.

He explained that the policy needs to have flexibility to allow principals to make individual decisions.

The same top may look different on two different body types, said Sandra Lemmons, PUSD assistant superintendent, Business Services. "I think we need to be cognizant of that."

Administrators expected to inform students of dress expectations at the beginning of the academic year, and subsequent violations may include changing clothes, notifying parents and detention.

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