April Board Vote Scheduled On Consistent Attire Program (CAP) For 9 Elementary Schools; Watch CAP Video Now

The Board of Education at its April 10 meeting will vote on a Consistent Attire Program (CAP) for nine Wicomico County elementary schools that met the draft policy’s threshold of 70% parent response to surveys, with 60% of responding parents in favor of CAP.

The CAP proposal is awaiting an April Board vote on 2nd reading, after being approved on 1st reading in February. If the Board approves CAP, it would take effect with the 2012-13 school year in following elementary schools: Beaver Run, Charles H. Chipman, Delmar, North Salisbury, Pemberton, Pinehurst, Prince Street, Wicomico Early Learning Center, and West Salisbury Elementary. Two schools that were part of the original proposal – East Salisbury Elementary and Glen Avenue Elementary – did not receive a sufficient level of parent response to proceed.

The draft policy statement on consistent attire and a video showing what consistent attire would look like are posted on the Board’s home page at www.wcboe.org, under Spotlight. The Consistent Attire Program video will also air on PAC 14.

Public comment is welcome at comments@wcboe.org, at 410-677-5251, or at Public Input, Wicomico Schools, PO Box 1538, Salisbury MD 21802.

At the request of the Board, the draft policy statement includes information about consequences for violations of consistent attire, and procedures for approving (or discontinuing) a consistent attire program. According to the draft policy statement, “If at least 70% of the parent surveys are returned and 60% of those parents are in favor of consistent attire, the plan will be submitted to the Board of Education for approval.” Schools involved in the CAP proposal surveyed parents by a combination of phone survey and paper survey, and ensured that each parent’s vote was counted only one.

If the Board approved CAP in April, that would leave plenty of time to inform families that it would take effect for the 2012-13 school year and alert local clothing merchants to the new program.

GO HERE to see video.