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The Long and Short of It: School Code Being Enforced

Aug. 25, 2004 – The girls' skirts were too short. The boys' pants were too long. As a result, the students wearing them were not allowed on campus as the new year began Wednesday at Education Complex High School.
The orientation process was slow, and the lines were long. But parents, administrators and students overwhelmingly agreed that the school year got off to a good start.
It was not just violations of the revised dress code that kept some of the young people outside "If your parent did not come with you, you could not come in," Principal Kurt Vialet said. "If a parent comes with a student who is not in uniform, the student cannot get [his or her] class schedule," he added.
The new rules were laid down in June. Parents and guardians were encouraged to pick up a copy of the three-page revised student uniform policy at the school. (See "Baggy Pants, Boots, Long Jackets Out for Complex".) But not all parents and students followed the rules.
"Some parents decided not to comply and allowed students to purchase what they wanted," Vialet said.
The St. Croix high school has about 400 junior and senior students. Wednesday's agenda called for them to attend orientation in the company of their parents, get their class schedules and have their identification photographs taken. But school monitors at the entrance gate did not allow many students to enter.
"Some of the girls' skirts were too short, and the boys' pants hem was too long and excessively bulky," Hugh Clark said. Clark and his brother Antoine are both monitors at the high school. Stationed at the entrance on Wednesday, they inspected students approaching the gate. Both brothers said they explained to parents what is required in order for their children to start attending classes on Monday.
"The majority is in compliance," Hugh Clark said. "There are just a few out of step."
The requirements go beyond the dress code.
Signing of School-Parent Compact Mandatory
Parents and guardians are required to sign a School-Parent Compact which spells out the school's policy on student, parental and teacher involvement. "The compact is part of the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act," Vialet said. It outlines how parents, students, faculty and staff will share responsibilities for improving student achievement.
Among other things, the parents must agree to:
– Know and support all rules and regulations of the school.
– Consult with their children's teachers at least twice a year
– Monitor their students' homework, telephone usage and Internet time.
– Attend PTA meetings.
The students must commit to:
– Attend classes on time
– Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
– Comply with the school's zero-tolerance policy on drug use.
And the faculty must take responsibility for:
– Providing a safe, secure and well-disciplined learning environment.
– Enhancing student learning.
– Providing opportunities for parent/teacher interaction.
Judith Antoine was at Complex on Wednesday to register her two daughters, Trisha and Ernestine. "There's a line for insurance, a line for I.D.'s; there are a lot of lines," she remarked. But she said the school uniform policy is not a problem.
Under the revised dress code, girls' skirts must hang no higher than 2 inches above the knee — in the front and in the back. "I teach my child to follow the rules," Antoine said. "The uniforms are no problem. This will be a better school."
Chimone McIntosh, a senior, said the policy "got stricter, but I don’t see any problem with it." Her mother, Brenda Lynch, sat beside her in the cafeteria reading the parent compact. Lynch said the new policies will promote parental involvement.
"It's good," Lynch said. "It gets you involved from the get-go. This could be a great school if the parents just get involved."
She said she planned to submit her PTA membership application before leaving the campus.
Another parent, Gerarda Gibbs, termed the orientation experience "positive." "There was a lot of good information for parent involvement," she said. "Students and parents need this."
Gibbs' son, Brandon Spencer, was one of the boys whose pants were too long. "We are going to get them hemmed," his mother said.
Shanika Mathurin, an 11th grader, and Jaynese Watson, a 12th grader, called to their friends from outside the school gates. The two were not allowed inside because their skirts were too short. "My new skirt was not ready," Shanika said, adding that her mother was at work but would come to the school on Thursday.
"I don't think the uniform makes a difference," Shanika added. "You come here to learn."
Jaynese called to her friend Rehema Payne, who had just finished getting her class schedule. Rehema, also a 12th grader, had come to school earlier with her mother but wearing her skirt from last year. "I was sent home because my skirt was too short," she said. "I had to go home and get my new skirt."
Police Officer Parent Not Overly Worried
Police Sgt. Charles Orange accompanied his daughter, 11th grader Irene Garcia, to her first day of school. "I've been here since 8 a.m.," Orange said as he watched the students slowly advance in line. "It's now noon."
Orange said he thinks the new school year will be positive and productive. "If parents and students do their part, everything will fall into place," he said.
He said he is not overly worried about the safety of the students at the school. Days before the end of the 2003-04 school year, student Jahmalie Henry was fatally shot at the school. Jahmalie, a Complex student, died of wounds from a sawed-off shotgun reportedly carried onto the campus parking lot in a book bag. The alleged assailant, then a 17-year-old Central High School student, has been charged with first-degree murder.
"The thing that happened last year was an isolated incident," Orange said. "If people want to break the rules, it's hard to stop them. It goes back to the individual and the parents. It's how you raise your kids — that’s what's important."
Gibbs also said she has confidence in the school. "I don’t have any worries," she said. Her responsibility, she said, is to educate her son "about the world" and encourage him "to follow the social and academic rules."
Lynch said it is "heart breaking" remembering the events of last spring. She prays for her daughter and all the children at the school. "Chimone is in her last year, and this is my last child that will be going through the public school system," she said.
Orientation for returning, new and transfer students is Thursday for 10th graders and Friday for ninth graders, from 9 a.m. to noon both days. Students will receive their class schedules, get their I.D. photos taken and sign up for school insurance. There are fees of $15 for the photos and $10 for the insurance; they must be paid for by cash or money order. To be admitted to orientation, students must be in proper school uniform and accompanied by parents or guardians.
On Monday, all students are to report at 7:55 a.m. for their first full day of classes.

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