With the end of the Labor Day holiday weekend comes the start of the 2007-2008 school year for students in the Indian River School District. And when they return to school on Tuesday, Sept. 4, they may find some changes to school rules and even the location where they’re attending classes.
In May, the Board of Education approved a new “Supervision of Students” policy, to be implemented in the 2007-2008 school year, applying to all after-school events. The policy’s objective is to prevent unnecessary movement before, during and after events and to restrict attendance of persons less than 18 years of age, unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
For all high school events, students in grades 9 through 12 will be required to present acceptable identification for admittance, while elementary and middle school students, and others under the age of 18, will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
For middle school events, middle school and high school students, grades 6 through 12, will be admitted with presentation of proper identification.
On a related topic, tickets for high school athletic events will be $5 starting this fall season for students and adults, while admission price for middle school events will be $2 for students and adults. The cost for athletic season tickets is $25 for students and adults, and $75 for families.
For elementary school events, any persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
“Assuring the safety and security of all spectators is of the utmost importance to the Board of Education,” Superintendent Susan Bunting said in a statement on the school board’s Web site. “As a result [of this policy], after-school and evening activities will be more enjoyable for everyone in attendance.”
Also this year, the Indian River School District will employ an updated dress code for all students, effective Sept. 4, the first day back for students. Provisions and requirements under the code are as follows (and can be found on the districts Web site at www.irsd.net):
• Collared shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, turtlenecks, sweaters, sweatshirts, vests, pants, jeans, capri pants, skirts, skorts, shorts, culottes, jumpers and dresses are acceptable. Hooded sweatshirts are acceptable, provided the hood is not worn during the school day.
• Students will be required at all times to wear shoes or other appropriate footwear. Students must wear shoes that will not slip off the feet and thereby cause a safety problem. These include athletic shoes, oxfords, flats, pumps and sandals with a back strap. Inappropriate footwear includes flip-flops, shower shoes, beach shoes, thongs, bedroom slippers, unfastened shoes and shoes missing the appropriate closures.
• Shirts, tops, blouses and dresses must either have sleeves or cover the area from the neckline to the shoulder. They must also overlap the bottom garment or be tucked in. Any clothing that is transparent or exposes the midriff, naval or excessive cleavage is not acceptable.
• The length of skirts, skorts, culottes, jumpers, shorts and dresses must not be more than 2 inches above the top of the kneecap while the student is standing.
• No visible holes in any clothing are permitted.
• Clothing designed to be worn as undergarments may not be visible.
• Coats, jackets or other outwear may not be worn in the classroom.
• No headgear may be worn inside the school.
• Students shall not wear pants that sag below the waistline. Clothing with printing across the buttocks area is prohibited.
• Clothing must not be obscene, vulgar or ethnically, culturally or sexually offensive.
Students who violate these provisions may be subject to suspension under the district’s Student Discipline policy. Exceptions to this policy may be granted by school’s administration upon the presentation of approved documentation stating a bona fide reason for the request.
Another change to the school district is the temporary relocation of the Southern Delaware School of the Arts (SDSA), which formerly occupied a location on Hosier Street in Selbyville.
The school, as well as the district administrative offices, will reside this school year in Frankford at 252 Clayton Avenue, at the old Indian River High School. The old high school also served as a temporary location during the overhaul of Lord Baltimore Elementary school during the 2005-2006 school year.
“It’s a temporary thing for now,” explained Dave Maull, public information director with the Indian River School District. “There’s renovation being done at the Selbyville location, and we needed somewhere to go.”