Teacher urges change; Linden board advances first reading to permit cargo pants in uniform policy

Nancy Cordino, a teacher at Seoul Middle School, told the board that enforcement of the uniform policy has removed otherwise-compliant students from class for wearing khaki pants that include side pockets. "To have my students... missing classroom instruction because they have pants that have pockets on the side" is an "unintended consequence," she said, and asked the board to permit cargo pants in khaki, navy or black if they meet the uniform standard.

The planning and policy committee later brought the dress and grooming policy forward for a first reading. Board members discussed amending the policy to permit cargo pants; the board accepted an amendment (introduced by Miss Pino) and approved items 1–4 as amended during the first reading.

Members and public commenters also raised practical enforcement issues, including how long a student might be removed from class while waiting for a parent to deliver alternate clothing; a public speaker suggested providing a note to allow the student to return to class if a replacement uniform is not immediately available.

The amendment is a first reading; any final policy change will require the board to complete procedural steps noted in the board’s policy process before it becomes policy.