The Observation Deck

Diane,

We bought our one daughter, a junior, a new hoodless jacket for that very reason and it was not cheap. Hooded jackets are ubiquitous -- nonhooded, not so much. And I don't think there is any consensus on what the rules are. The house 1 guidance counselor at orientation told parents hoodies were fine as long as they were taken off as soon as students entered the building. Next day, hoodies are being confiscated. And does Mr. Favre really think students can go back to their lockers to fetch their jackets in the six minutes they have to cross back and forth from the buildings to the mods? And uniforms will do nothing to end this problem. As long as students have to go back and forth across Franklin they will need to wear jackets throughout the day when the weather is cold.

Cleveland schools can no longer afford to subsidize their uniforms for economically disadvantaged children which is required by state law and are facing potential litigation over the matter. Why Lakewood BOE is wasting scarce resources on considering uniforms, which will require a subsidy for a significant portion of the student population, is again, beyond me.

Kate,

The video presentation of the report, as well as the whole meeting, is now online at http://lakewoodcityschools.org/content_page2.aspx?cid=516.

Matt

_________________
"Thank you to the publishers of the Observer and the readers of this forum for giving me a place to share my opinion." At-Large Lakewood City Councilwoman Monique Smith.

"Fiddle while Rome burns? Durn tootin' I will." Gary Rice.

Kate and Jim,

I posted early on in this thread asking what the cost is to our schools if we were to switch to uniforms. It is my understanding that Dr. Madak is looking into the cost as well as a district's legal obligation to provide uniforms to economically disadvantaged students.

Again, when will the BOE and the administration make clear to the community how they are going about using school funds to make program and other budget decisions. How does converting to uniforms fit into the big picture? Is their a plan?

School districts are filled with some of the most intelligent people who work hard everyday to give our kids the best education. But, then I read posts like these about whether or not kids can wear their coats in the cold (of course they should) or wasting time debating on when hoodies should or should not be taken off, and I wonder where is the common sense in education? We have bigger problems. Do any of the people making these decisions walk into a building and experience the day in the life of one of our students?

Today, a friend passed on information about upcoming community meetings being scheduled by the Lakewood Schools. Apparently, there are fliers in the library;however, I have not been sent information home through my daughter nor is their information on the Lakewood School website. The flier states that community members will be "heard" at these meetings? Will we? Or, will be asked to sit through another well orchestrated meeting in which our concerns and questions or not answered, but pacified?

Find out. The meetings are scheduled for October 12th, 7pm at Horace Mann Elementary, and on October 20th, 7pm and Emerson.

Correction ...

_________________
"Thank you to the publishers of the Observer and the readers of this forum for giving me a place to share my opinion." At-Large Lakewood City Councilwoman Monique Smith.

"Fiddle while Rome burns? Durn tootin' I will." Gary Rice.

Matt,

I am not talking about the regularly scheduled BOE meetings. I am talking about the community meetings being advertised with fliers at the Lakewood library. The flier talks about a a discussion on school funds and that the schools want to citizens to attend to allow their voices to be heard.

Kristine,

Okay. You are correct as to the community meeting dates.

Matt

_________________
"Thank you to the publishers of the Observer and the readers of this forum for giving me a place to share my opinion." At-Large Lakewood City Councilwoman Monique Smith.

"Fiddle while Rome burns? Durn tootin' I will." Gary Rice.

Thanks for clarifying, Matt. It seems like everyone will be very busy attending meetings in October. See you there!

So are the labels in jeans really being checked now? I've heard that certain jeans are not allowed and because they can't tell from a glance girls are being asked to show the labels on their jeans. The kids are just so confused. Seems to me a lot of time is being spent on dress code policing.

My next question is what about winter coats. Do the kids have to take them off before they cross the sidewalk onto the HS? Can they even be carried if they have a hood? At a couple hundred bucks a pop I think I'm going to have a real issue when it is "confiscated" on a twenty degree day.

I am not anti-dress code or even anti-uniform, I am anti-stupidity.

Toni, The key words are " I have heard..." Where is the communication from the school? The sheet that we were given does not address the issues that the kids are concerned about, i.e. skinny jeans, at what point does a hooded jacket need to be taken off, what about crossing the street in the winter, etc... There seems to be much confusion among students, parents, and perhaps by whoever is making and enforcing the muddled rules. These are not school uniform issues, once again it is lack of communication and over concern for clothing rather than effective use of the school day.

Diane,

I so agree! What has precipitated this sudden dress code craze? This code has been in place for a while.

Just what I would want to do when entering a school building. (If I dont carry a bookpbag) Place my books on the floor so I can take off my hoodie. They should be allowed in the hallways but not the classrooms. They going to start checking these kids shoes for shoebombs?

I have had many conversations lately with parents who are frustrated about how the dress code is being enforced at the high school. Some of what I hear does sound silly or just plain confusing.

However, from my own experience with school related issues I feel like if parents could set up a time to talk with Jeff Patterson (assistant superintendent) and Dr. Wagner (LHS principal) that everyone would be able to work this out. I think they would welcome the dialogue especially if parents could offers some solutions. I have heard some great ideas from parents on how to handle dress code violations. But also, may be it is time to revisit the dress code which I think was passed in 2005.

Parent and Student input is important--this seems like something that all sides could work out. Contact information for the administration can be found at the Lakewood Schools website.

Agenda for the October 4th Regular Lakewood School Board Meeting

A list of FAQs has been added to the high school's web page that should help clear up some of the confusion over the dress code. http://lakewoodcityschools.org/content_page2.aspx?schoolid=1&cid=552