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Schools

Schools could lift ban on flip-flops

"We'd rather be concentrating on academics," one School Board official said during the last meeting.

By MELANIE AVE
Published April 29, 2006

TAMPA - The flip-flopping over flip-flops may soon be over.

Most Hillsborough County School Board members appear ready to lift the ban on flip-flops and allow middle and high school students to wear them next year, whether they are cheap, expensive, bejeweled or plain.

For years, students have argued the shoes are much more than beach wear, but board members have remained resolute on their prohibition. But now, they are about to give in to the thong-type shoe that is firmly entrenched in the world of fashion.

"I think the general consensus is with flip-flops, we'd rather be concentrating on academics," said board Chairwoman Carolyn Bricklemyer. "They are definitely mainstream. You can't go anywhere without seeing them."

If approved, Hillsborough would join other school districts, including Citrus County, in allowing flip-flops. Pinellas allows flip-flops, but says shoes must be "safe and appropriate."

Board members discussed potential changes to the student dress code Friday. They still must vote on the changes to make them official, which could come sometime in May.

Taking flip-flops off the list of banned footwear would be the biggest change to the code, but other tentative revisions include requiring hemlines to be no longer than a fingertip length above the knee instead of mid thigh and forbidding clothing and jewelry with pictures of weapons.

Another change would allow students to wear head coverings for religious or health reasons. Currently coverings are forbidden, but many principals allow Muslim girls to wear them.

The district's dress code committee recently recommended the changes.

This time last year, School Board members went back and forth on the issue of flip-flops.

At first, they wanted to allow middle and high school students to wear the nicer, sturdier version of the shoe. The cheap shower-type variant was frowned upon as a clear safety hazard because the toe trap pops out easily.

But after a bit of debate, board members decided to keep a rigid ban on all flip-flops, realizing the difficulty principals would have separating the good from the bad. They couldn't figure out how to define a flip-flop.

Under the new changes, if approved, flip-flops could be worn beginning in August in Hillsborough's middle and high schools. Elementary students would still be required to wear shoes "suitable for outdoor physical education classes."

A couple of board members said they are still worried about whether the shoes are safe enough.

"There are flip-flips and there are flip-flops and there are FLIP-FLOPS," said board member Doretha Edgecomb. "Some are well made. Some are so flimsy. Some are just inexpensive and they break easily."

But area director Barbara Hancock said principals reported no safety problems or student visits to the clinic because of flip-flop mishaps. Parents and students, she said, have been "very vocal" in their support of flip-flops.

Durant High School senior Aaron Banda, 18, said flip-flops are a nonissue.

"It's just a shoe," he said. "I definitely think it's not a safety issue at all. I myself have tripped down stairs two times in a row and I wasn't wearing flip-flops."

On Friday, after much discussion among the board, vice chairman Jack Lamb urged an end to all the flip-flop talk.

"I'd like to move on," he said. "I think we've discussed this to death."

Melanie Ave can be reached at 813 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com

Hillsborough County School Board members informally agreed Friday to a few changes to student dress codes that would take effect in August. They still must vote to make the changes official. Here are a few of the highlights:

FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Shoes shall be worn and securely fastened to the feet and have a low heel height, not to exceed one inch. Footwear must be suitable for outdoor physical education classes and unsafe shoes such as "skate tennis shoes" are not allowed.

FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Shoes shall be worn. Skate tennis shoes and bedroom slippers are unacceptable.

FOR ALL STUDENTS

Students are forbidden from wearing clothing or jewelry with depictions of weapons.

Clothing shall not expose the midchest area.

Head coverings shall not be worn unless required for religious observance or health-related reasons.

Hemlines shall be no shorter than a fingertip length above the knee.

Source: Hillsborough County School District

[Last modified April 29, 2006, 01:17:17]