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KINGSTON — Parent concerns about the new dress code may have dominated the public comment section of the Wyoming Valley West School Board meeting Wednesday. But other issues arose by the time of adjournment, including electrical sparks from a light fixture prompting closure of the high school gym, retirement of the athletic director at the end of the year, and hiring a board member’s son as part-time athletic director, with the possibility it will be full time next year.
Parents lodged complaints again about the new dress code, contending it is too costly; makes it hard to find compliant clothes for girls; and being enforced in a way that discriminates against girls. They argued the code allows boys shorts to be 2 inches above knees but girls dresses to cover the knee, and that students singled out for offenses have overwhelmingly been girls.
Superintendent Irv DeRemer has admitted it is primarily girls being singled out, though usually for violating a new rule requiring collars and sleeves on dresses. But he also said there have been a total of 24 violations cited since school started, and only three times students sat in suspension all day because no one brought appropriate clothes.
“We always tell them, keep a change of clothes in your locker, just in case,” DeRemer said.
After the meeting, he said the concerns would be reviewed and could lead to possible modifications of the code, but insisted “there will be no wholesale changes.”
Minor gym fire
A parent also complained about wiring problems at the high school gym and a sewage backup in the high school cafeteria. DeRemer said one ceiling light in the cafeteria had blown a ballast Saturday after girls volleyball practice. A bigger problem happened Wednesday when another light apparently blew a ballast and showered sparks onto the gym floor. That led to students being sent home early for the day.
DeRemer said the gym has been closed and an inspector was brought in, who recommended changing to LCD lights. He hopes to have that done and the gym reopened by Oct. 1, “if not sooner.” He also said there was a sewage backup in the cafeteria and that it was being addressed.
The board also voted to accept the resignation of long-time athletic director Sandy Mackay, effective June 30, and to hire Nicholas Gill as part-time assistant athletic director at $20,000 a year. Nicholas is the son of board member John Gill, who abstained on the vote.
After the meeting, board President Joe Mazur said 12 candidates were interviewed for the post. And while he conceded people may not believe him, Gill was the best qualified. Mazur also said the idea is to have Nicholas Gill work with Mackay and, if it works out, consider him for the full-time post when Mackay retires.
