Highlands proposes dress code, class time changes for some students

Changes in dress code, grading and class times could be coming to Highlands School District when students head back to class Aug. 27.

Building principals have presented proposed 2024-25 handbooks that the school board will vote on during its next meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.

The most significant changes include modifications to the middle school and high school dress codes.

In a move that is expected to be popular among students, middle school Principal Becky Bragan said bike shorts will be permitted.

“As long as they are an appropriate length and have no holes,” she said.

High school Principal Mike Toole said the high school dress code also underwent a significant revamp. to address feelings of inequity among students.

He did not provide examples of the changes.

He also said a new handbook section will highlight the high school’s chain of command to direct parents to the correct staff member.

“Whatever the complaint or concern is, they can get in touch with the appropriate person and there will be less bouncing between voicemails,” Toole said.

“We don’t want any community concerns slipping through the cracks.”

Elementary, pre-K changes

At the elementary school, the biggest change will be providing additional information to parents around standards-based reporting, Principal Stan Whiteman said.

They no longer will provide percentage grades, he said.

Kristie Gizienski, principal at the early childhood center, said class times will be adjusted for the district’s youngest students. They will spend five minutes longer in class each day to make up time lost during scheduled half days.

“Any time the district had a half day, pre-K still had (sessions) in the morning and afternoon, and our attendance was pretty low,” Gizienski said.

Gizienski proposed adding five minutes to the morning and afternoon sessions, and alternating which classes attended school on half days.

The move is allowed under state guidelines.

Morning students will be in class from 8:55 to 11:30 a.m., and afternoon classes will be from 1:05 to 3:40 p.m.

Pre-K will follow the district’s half-day schedule as follows:

• Sept. 13, Nov. 27 and June 6 will have morning pre-K only.

• Dec. 23 and Jan. 24 will have afternoon classes meeting in the morning slots. The morning students do not have class.

“This makes it so that it isn’t all the afternoon classes that miss (under the half-day schedule),” Gizienski said.

“We have communicated with families so they have time to prepare for the change.”