By

CAL BEVERLY

[Editor's

note: Because of a production error by the Editor, the

continuation of this story was left out of Wednesday's

Citizen. This is the story in its entirety.]

Trench

coats are out. Book bags are in - but only partly.

And tuck in those blouses and shirts, pull up those baggy

pants, put a belt on, and lose those holey jeans,

students.

That's part

of the Safety Task Force's "proposed draft"

recommendation to the Fayette County Board of Education

last Friday. The board will take public input in coming

weeks and then vote on the new rules next month.

Also part

of the "strategic plan" is a police officer in

each middle school, no timetable given. J.C. Booth Middle

School in Peachtree City currently has a pilot program in

place, with one "resource officer" furnished by

the Peachtree City Police Department.

The dress

code and discipline rules are part of an overall package

designed to shore up student safety in the wake of

multiple school shootings in recent years.

"You

will be treated as you are dressed," Wayne Robinson,

director of secondary school operations, told the board,

quoting educator Harry Wong.

The

proposals envision consistent dress and discipline

guidelines for all schools in the system, Robinson said.

Target date to enforce the dress code rules is Sept. 7,

three weeks after school begins. That's to give teachers

time to emphasize the new rules to all students before

the deadline. Trench coats are banned immediately for

safety reasons.

The book

bag restrictions will go into effect "as soon as

lockers or appropriate locations are assigned,"

according to the task force draft.

"The

dress code will work only if teachers support it and let

administrators know [of lapses]," member Connie Hale

said. "Some teachers will watch and some just won't

bother."

Robinson

assured the board that all teachers will be required to

enforce the final version of the rules.

"They've

been very reasonable in their approach,"

Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis said of the task force.

"I don't think they've gone too far. It leaves the

door open to exploring uniforms" and other conduct

issues.

"We'll

be able to readjust if we need to," DeCotis said.

"Now we need feedback from parents and the

public." The proposals are posted on the school

system's web site at https://www.fcboe.org. A copy also is

available for public inspection at the board office on

West Stonewall Avenue in Fayetteville.

Uniforms

are off the front burner, according to the

recommendations. "Each school can explore the

feasibility of school uniforms within their own school

communities," the draft proposal says. Only Brook

Elementary now has a uniform policy, and it's voluntary.

Parents who don't want their kids in uniforms don't have

to get them.

Already

funded for the coming school year are photo

identification badges for all system personnel.

Also

certain to be in place by October are multiple flip

charts in every school containing checklists to be

following for a variety of emergency situations,

including armed intruders and violent weather.

Each school

will be equipped with an emergency kit and supplies,

renewed annually, Robinson said. Each school also will

get portable and base radios that tie in to police and

emergency frequencies, Robinson said.

Among the

proposals, the task force recommended the following:

- Consistent enforcement of the dress

code in all schools.

- Students must wear pants, shorts and

slacks "of the appropriate size" pulled up to

their natural waist levels, with no holes, patches or

fraying. Pants can't touch the floor.

- All shirts and blouses must be

tucked in.

- Pants with belt loops must have a

visible belt.

- Trench coats are prohibited.

- Book bags will be restricted.

"At the beginning of the school day, all book bags

will be placed in lockers or designated areas. Students

may pick up their book bags at the end of the school

day."

- Faculty members will have a dress

code for "appropriate and professional attire."

Jeans are prohibited for teachers.

In a

dialogue between Robinson and board member Mickey

Littlefield, some potentially contentious issues were

aired.

"Will

the clothing have to be sex appropriate?"

Littlefield quizzed Robinson.

"The

principal has the right to decide if the clothing is

disruptive," Robinson said. The issue is not

specifically addressed in the dress code, he noted.

Littlefield:

"Is piercing allowed?"

Robinson:

"All the schools will be doing the same. Piercing is

not mentioned" in the code.

Littlefield:

"Bandannas?"

Robinson:

"Prohibited. They fall under gang attire."

Robinson

noted that piercing and tattoos are addressed under

another set of rules already in effect.

"There

will be some challenges," Robinson said. "But

if we save just one student, this will be worth it."

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