MOORPARK : School Board Delays Decision on Hat Ban

After more than an hour of late-night discussion Tuesday concerning a ban on certain colored hats at Moorpark High School, the school board delayed until its next meeting Nov. 14 a vote on a policy that would ban all hats at the school.

In September, a dress code policy went into effect banning black, blue or red hats, which school officials believe promote gang activity.

The board directed Supt. Tom Duffy to find out if there had been meetings involving the school’s principal, Cary Dritz, and students upset by the partial banning of hats.

Duffy told the board that the dress code policy is essentially a problem that must be dealt with on campus, not through board policy.

“You as a board member are not on that site,” Duffy said. “Cary Dritz is on the firing line . . . Let the school site administration operate the policy.”

But school board member Pam Castro angrily told Duffy that she wanted to ensure that there has been open communication between students and Dritz over the controversial dress code.

Castro said another concern is protection of the students, since several gang members from other areas have been arrested on campus with weapons.

“We need more protection from outside influences . . . Taking off hats does not solve the problem.”

She asked the board to consider adding more personnel to patrol the campus.