Dress code committee to reconvene

Hamburg Area school directors have agreed to reconvene the dress code committee after hearing from a parent at a meeting on Sept. 24.

Michelle Forrest called the dress code “ambiguous” and told school directors that her daughter has received two detentions for dress code violations in regards to pants.

Forrest said that she followed the district’s dress code guidelines when clothes shopping for her daughter.

“I don’t understand it,” Forrest said. “She used to be excited to go to school, but now she doesn’t want to go because we don’t know if she will get in trouble for what she is wearing.”

School director Marianna Burns made a motion to reconvene the dress code committee.

“There are issues we need to clarify with the dress code,” Burns said.

In other news, school directors approved fund transfers for the 2012-13 school year.

“Because of the (district’s) ability to maximize expenditure controls, revenues surpassed expenditures,” business manager Stuart Whiteleather said. “I’d like to thank the administration and school board.”

Whiteleather said that $700,000 would be moved into the capital reserve, which would bring that fund’s total to $6 million. The money is earmarked for the Perry Elementary project, according to Whiteleather.

The district is also setting aside money for the replacement of athletic fields in years to come. The athletic field replacement fund will receive $50,000, bringing its total to approximately $400,000.

A reserve or “rainy day fund” will have its fund balance increased to $2.8 million, Whiteleather said.

In other news, school directors approved spending $15,264 for lights for a parking lot that will be built at Noble and Chestnut streets in Shoemakersville. The parking lot is a short distance from Perry Elementary.

“It would be sensible since it’s a safety and liability issue,” Burns said.

Superintendent Steven Keifer noted that the district has heard from neighbors near the site who were concerned that the lot could become a hangout and were in favor of having lighting on the site.

The next meeting of school directors is Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room.

School director Todd Hummel was absent.