Nov 20, 2012 2 min read

Bring on the cargo pants.

A proposed dress code for Washington School District, which would have eliminated the wearing of any trousers or pants with four or more pockets, was voted down by the school board Monday night.

The dress code was met with objections by parents and students when it was first proposed in the spring. The original code limited bottoms and tops to a handful of colors, set a length for shorts and skirts and prohibited the wearing of blue jeans.

The policy was amended and came back before the board this fall.

In the meantime, students began paying attention to their dress. Senior High School Principal Frank Rotunda has seen very few dress infractions this fall.

“They’ve been great,” he said of how students are dressing.

The dress code was defeated in a 4-4 tie. Board president David Stotka did not attend the meeting.

Board member Troy Breese said he did not believe the public was ready for a change and, for some, it could be a financial burden.

William Braun, another board member, said he had spoken to the principals of the middle and high schools and none of them had objections to the cargo pants.

“The feeling that there would be contraband hidden in cargo pants was essentially pooh-poohed,” he said, adding he no longer could support the dress code.

After the vote, several parents and students in the audience applauded.

Superintendent Roberta DiLorenzo agreed students had become more conscientious of their clothing after the dress code was first proposed and that it had become a positive experience.

“It was a wake-up call for the students,” she said.