LOS ALAMITOS : Anti-Gang Dress Code Tentatively Approved

Trustees of the Los Alamitos Unified School District have tentatively approved a new dress code that would ban gang-style clothing, even though they insisted there is no gang problem in local schools.

The new policy, approved this week, would affect more than 7,200 students in the school district’s seven elementary, one middle school and two high schools. Final approval could come when the school board meets June 20.

If adopted, the new dress code would take effect next school year.

But trustees left it to the principals and the safety committee of each school, which includes parents, to define what constitutes gang-related clothing.

Assistant Supt. Lorie Gonia said that the safety school panels will seek the help of the police to determine the clothing styles and colors that would be prohibited. She said it’s possible that schools would have different standards.

“We’re not saying there is gang activity in the school campuses,” Gonia said. “But there is gang activity in the community. We want to be proactive.”

Under a current dress code, a student who goes to school dirty and untidy may be sent home or required to tidy up before entering the classroom.

Also prohibited are articles of clothing that may be unsafe, such as long, loose sleeves--or hair--worn while operating a machine or working near an open fire. Clothing with obscene or sexually suggestive words or pictures are not allowed.

“Fashion dictates what kids wear,” Trustee Del Clark said. “The schools can make the call as to what colors and style are acceptable.”

Trustees said that the ban on gang clothing is not intended to violate the students’ civil rights or dictate fashion style or taste. But they said that wearing gang-related apparel threatens the health and safety of the school environment.

Trustee Keith Polakoff said that although gangs are not a problem now, they could be someday. “People should look ahead, rather than wait for things to happen,” he said.

Several school districts in Orange County, including Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Tustin, have adopted policies prohibiting gang-related attire.

Among gang-influenced clothing identified by other school districts are oversized black pants, Los Angeles Raiders jackets, loose shirts and red or blue athletic shoes.