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Scranton board approves 2024–25 handbooks after last‑minute dress‑code amendment
Summary
After heated discussion and law‑enforcement concerns about allowing sweatpants and spirit‑wear bottoms, the board adopted the 2024–25 handbooks with a friendly amendment removing those items for grades 9–12 and agreed to revert to the prior K–8 language; several directors raised procedural concerns about the timing of the change.
The Scranton School District board approved the 2024–25 student handbooks Monday after an extended debate focused on a proposed relaxation of the high‑school dress code.
Administration presented proposed handbook language that would allow spirit‑wear bottoms and sweatpants in grades 9–12. Law‑enforcement representatives and several directors raised safety concerns, saying looser bottom‑wear could make it easier to conceal weapons. Director Gilmartin and others urged caution because many families had already purchased uniforms.
A friendly amendment — offered during the meeting and adopted by roll call — removed sweatpants and spirit‑wear bottoms for grades 9–12. After voting on the amendment, the board approved the handbooks, with the administration clarifying no changes would be made to K–8 language for the 2023–24 school year and that principals would retain building‑level enforcement responsibilities.
Several directors criticized the late timing and called for earlier work‑session review in future years so packet materials can be digested; administration acknowledged the compressed schedule and said it will work on better advance planning and provide a higher‑level policy/AR alignment in future handbook presentations.
The motion to approve the handbooks (with the amendment) passed on roll call following the amendment vote.
