ORANGE : School Dress Code, Grade Policy Studied
The Orange Unified School District’s Board of Education has completed a first reading of new districtwide policies that address everything from dress codes to combatting campus drug use.
Review of the document, “Board Policy Series 5000,” went relatively smoothly at last week’s meeting. But trustees differed over a section stating that a student with 10 unexcused absences may be given a failing grade in a class.
Board member Martin Jacobson argued that 10 unexcused absences should automatically cause the student to receive a failing grade. Board members Robert H. Viviano and Bill Lewis countered that teachers should have discretion in failing a student.
If approved, the new policies would permit school officials to ban certain types of clothing if officials suspect the apparel is gang-related. Also, the policy supports the school’s right to conduct unannounced searches with specially trained dogs to sniff out drugs and other illegal substances on school grounds.
The board is expected to review and adopt the document at its Thursday meeting.
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