Waterloo school officials will rewrite dress code

Waterloo Community Schools officials will re-write a student dress code after an administrative law judge ruled last week that the policy exceeds district authority.

The Board of Education Monday unanimously approved rewriting the policy in a proscriptive manner, so it says only what students may not wear. But in split decisions, the board also agreed to lobby for a change in state statute that would make the current policy acceptable and appeal the judge's ruling to the State Board of Education.

“I think while we appeal to the State Board of Education, we can start rewriting this,” said board member Bernice Richard.

Judge Carol Greta released her ruling Thursday recommending that the state board reverse the policy approved last May by Waterloo's board because it was written in a prescriptive manner. Waterloo parents Rick and Teesha Peters appealed the district's policy to the state board, claiming it didn't meet the state statute. The state board will vote to affirm, modify or vacate her ruling when it meets Nov. 17.

The Peterses were among 15 people who spoke against the policy during nearly an hour of public comment at the meeting. Another two people spoke in favor of the dress code.

“This current administration is putting too much time into a uniform policy,” said Waterloo resident Lynn Galloway, who called for a greater focus on improving education in the district. Many of the opponents who spoke echoed her concerns.

Prescriptive means the policy explains what must be worn, as in a uniform. Greta ruled that section 279.58 of Iowa code only allows school boards to write proscriptive dress codes.

The new policy caused uproar among some district parents and students. It is scheduled to go into effect across the district next fall but was put in place at the three high schools, two elementary schools and two alternative educational programs this year.

After her ruling, the issue was added to the Waterloo board's Monday meeting where Superintendent Gary Norris recommended five possible responses. The board unanimously rejected taking no action on the matter and appealing the proposed decision to district court.

In a 4-3 vote, the board approved supporting legislative action that would allow districts to write prescriptive dress codes. Board members Lyle Schmitt, David Meeks and Sue Flynn voted against that option. Schmitt voted against appealing the proposed ruling to the state board, which passed 6-1.