Dress code changes, including hair dyes and beards, approved for Rapides Parish schools
In addition to employee raises, the Rapides Parish School Board also changed multiple policies and appointed members to an advisory panel Tuesday.
Members voted 7-2 to accept the policy changes recommended by its discipline review committee, including changes to its dress code, tobacco use and vaping and suspension/expulsion policies.
Those voting against the changes were President Dr. Stephen Chapman and Wilton Barrios.
Barrios was the only member who spoke out against the changes that will allow students to wear differently colored hair and beards. The board had approved the change in October, but placed that on hold so it could go through the review committee.
"They're still children. They're not adults," he said when offering a substitute motion to nix that change.
"We'll be asking for problems," he said when the motion died after not being seconded.
See the changes coming: Proposed policy changes would clear way for Rapides students to color hair, wear beards
The changes to the dress policy also tweaked the district's uniform policy. Black polo shirts now are allowed, as well as leggings for girls and black or white sweatshirts and pullovers that may include school logos.
Member Sandra Franklin offered another substitute motion to accept the policy revisions with the option favored by Superintendent Jeff Powell's administration on changes to the vaping policy. That is the motion that passed on the 7-2 vote.
The new vaping policy will combine discipline with help quitting smoking and/or vaping for students and education on the harmful health effects of both. The changes were prompted last year when administrators petitioned the board to change the policy they saw as too lax, telling members about overdoses on their campuses.
The board also unanimously approved the members of its advisory panel on the magnet program to be created for Bolton High School. The 16-member panel will hold its first meeting May 9 in the district's board room at 619 Sixth St. in downtown Alexandria.
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The members are:
Administrators Jennifer Scott, Dewayne Vines, Jan Schmit and Becky Clear.
Teachers Rokeisha Randel, Jessica Waits, Sharon Hammond and Tammy Nation.
Parents Molly Townsend, Tori Flynn, Jenny Hamilton and Jim Clinton.
Minority community stakeholders Anita Hayes and Teresa Lewis; white community stakeholders Brad Webb and Mackenzie Baudin.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Rapides School Board OKs changes to dress code, vaping policy
