Gender-neutral clothing policy recommended to Ansonia BOE

ANSONIA — Despite one parent’s pitch, no creative clothing like logo hoodies, distressed style pants or chains hanging from belt loops will be allowed in the city’s schools anytime soon. But boys wearing skirts? Well, that’s a possibility. The Board of Education’s Policy Committee is recommending a gender-neutral uniform clothing code for Ansonia schools to the full board during its October meeting.

The recommendation imposes little change to the current policy, with the exception of ridding separate boys’ and girls’ provisions. All are now encompassed as students. This action was taken to ensure that the school’s policies are inclusive and welcoming, regardless of gender identity.

So if a precedent-seeking boy wants to wear a skirt or skort (which combines aspects of skirts and shorts), he might be within his rights.

But he might also attract administrative intervention.

“If it presents a classroom distraction, the administration will address it,” said Fran DiGorgi, the Policy Committee chairwoman.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Joseph DiBacco said such intervention would not necessarily be punitive. But some board members believe that loop- hole might be challenged.

School board President William Nimons said the gender-neutral change was made to bring the policy in compliance with worldwide trends.

“From what I have been hearing, our uniform policy has been great,” Nimons said. “It promotes selfesteem and school pride. It eliminates competition.”

To say it impairs creativity, Nimons said, “is unfair.”

“Creativity takes place in the mind,” Nimons said. “Not through the clothes one’s wearing.”

DiGiorgi and Tracy DeLibro, another board member, agreed,

“It puts all the students on a level playing field,” DiGiorgi said. “And for those families that can’t afford it, there’s help available.”

Superintendent of Schools Carol Merlone said about 250 students were assisted with clothing purchases last year.

And DeLibro, who has two sons who went to Ansonia High, said the policy made her parenting duties easier.

“We didn’t go crazy shopping for school clothes every year,” she said. “I laid out the clothes every night and there were no worries in the morning.”

In Meriden, two parents began circulating a petition in August urging that district to incorporate a school uniform policy. The proposal has been recommend- ed by some in Derby.

While Seymour does not have school uniforms, the town does have a dress and grooming policy.

“Ansonia’s proposed change to making their policy gender-neutral is an appropriate modification to their current policy,” said Jennifer Magri, who was educated in Ansonia schools and now serves as the head of Seymour’s Board of Education.

Ansonia’s school uniform policy — permitting dress and Dockers-style pants, shorts with no cargo pockets, jumper skirts and skorts worn at the waist — remains the same. The skirts, shorts or skorts must be no higher than 3 inches about the knee All must be solid navy blue or khaki. Leggings can be worn but under skirts, shorts, skorts or pants. Shorts can only be worn between March 1 and Nov. 30.

Tops in solid colors — navy or Caroline blue or white — must be Polo or Oxford style collared shirts tucked into the pants and adorned with the Ansonia logo. Additionally, Ansonia logo crew-neck sweatshirts, vests or sweaters in solid Carolina blue, solid navy blue or solid white may be worn over shirts.

Besides the above restrictions, blue jeans, hoodies, baggy or long-legged pants, unsafe footwear and oversized jewelery, chains, medallions or earrings and wallet chains are prohibited.