Nazareth School Board Member Proposes Revised Dress Code

member Chris Miller wants the district to institute a revised dress code for district students -- and enforce it strictly.

Miller, in remarks at Monday's school board meeting, noted that he does not like what he sees when he observes students walking around Nazareth Area schools or getting on or off school buses.

“I don't know how well the dress code in Nazareth is watched,” Miller said. “I have observed students not dressed according to the dress code.”

Do you share Miller's concerns? If so, what revisions would you propose? The current dress code is located to the right of this article.

Miller recalled one day last month, near the end of the school year, when he saw a girl at a school bus stop who was wearing a skirt far shorter than the standard outlined in the district's current student dress policy. He also recounted a story he heard about a recent college graduate who was not hired for a job in his field of expertise because the president of the company at which he applied saw that the young man's shoes were untied.

Miller emphasized that learning to dress well as a matter of habit will help students succeed later in life.

His fellow board members did not reflect the same sense of urgency over the student dress code that Miller exuded.

Board President Lorin Bradley several times asked Miller to direct his comments to the board rather than the public. Board members reminded Miller that the school board is the body authorized to amend the district dress code.

Bradley eventually cut off Miller's remarks before Miller had a chance to share specifics of his proposed dress code.

District Superintendent , in remarks after Monday's meeting, said the administration will explore possible revisions to the district's dress code.

“It's something to look at,” said Riker, who took over as district superintendent earlier this month, following the retirement of .

“We're going to survey all the districts in Intermediate Unit 20,” Riker said, adding that once the administration gets hard facts about dress codes in neighboring districts, it will report its finding to the school board next month.

When asked what he thought of Miller's remarks, Riker replied: “It's always good to respect each other's opinions.”

Under the district's current dress code policy, building principals are responsible for taking disciplinary action against students who violate the policy, Riker said.