The administration has decided to tighten the enforcement on the school’s current dress code. To enforce the dress code efficiently, the administration has requested that teachers give referrals to students who to disobey the dress code. Students given referrals have been pulled out of class and warned about school suspension if they continue to break the dress code.

This renewal of dress code enforcement has evoked many complaints from the student body. These complaints, along with claims that the current dress code is inherently sexist, inspired the Student Council Association, (SCA),  to amend the dress code. The SCA recognized the student complaints and expressed the grievances to administration.

SCA President Elizabeth Grist said, “While the new dress code will be more lenient, it will still be reasonable and hold our students to high, respectable standards. We hope to allow athletic shorts and update the dress code so it is up to date with modern ways of dressing.”

During the SCA meeting on Sept. 29, the SCA teamed up with former principal and current assistant superintendent,  Haywood Hand, to revise the dress code. Hand came to the meeting with a revised dress code to show to the SCA.

“Over the past two years, the topic of dress code has been frequently discussed between myself and representatives of the RCHS student executive council,” said Hand. “Together, we have carefully examined the context and language of the current RCHS dress code and compared it to the guidelines of the RCPS dress code regulations.”

Principal Mike Craft also attended the meeting to help revise a dress code that seemed suitable to the administration as well. Craft’s goal was to the make the dress code gender neutral, with no reference to male or female dress.

“We’re trying to make it more common sense,” said Craft, “instead of saying five inches above the knee, we’re talking mid thigh, things that adjust for different people’s heights and statures.”

Although the SCA and Hand have made many changes to the dress code, their work is only a draft. The SCA still has to present this draft to the school board for it to be approved.

“ There is no code that has been done yet, it’s just suggestions,” said Craft.

Until then, the current dress code will continue to be enforced upon the student body in accordance with this year’s student handbook.