NEWPORT BEACH / COSTA MESA : Teens Address Board on Plan for Dress Code

Officials of Newport-Mesa Unified School District this week continued to work on a districtwide dress code that would recognize the role of clothing as a form of expression among teens.

A dozen students told the board Tuesday that prohibitions on hats, shorts, tank tops, baggy clothing, bare midriffs and cutoffs would cramp their style.

“You’re making us into clones. Why don’t you just put us in uniforms and save yourselves time?” asked Charity Bowles, a Monte Vista High School student.

Earlier this year, the board approved a policy allowing individual schools to opt for uniforms with consent of parents, teachers and administrators.

Beyond that, students and school board members apparently agreed that safety is the primary issue. The proposed code would prohibit gang-related clothing and leave to on-campus administrators responsibility for recognizing gang insignias for each neighborhood and prohibiting them accordingly.

It also would ban clothing that encourages illegal activity, gang membership, racism, sexism or other forms of discrimination.

“This is aimed at the fringe people who look really radical and really disrupt the atmosphere,” board member Jim Ferryman said.

The board threw out two proposed regulations--limiting baggy pants and overalls to two sizes larger than the student’s waist size and requiring shorts to be at least three inches from inseam to hem--as unenforceable. Length and bagginess will be addressed with language on “extremes.”

Another concern was whether to apply classroom standards at extracurricular events like football games and dances.

Board members agreed to allow tank tops, walking shorts and hemmed cut-off clothing. Hats will be allowed outside the classroom.