Returning students may have noticed the increase of dress code checks and compliance reminders more often than in years past. Principal Courtney Acosta intends to enforce the dress code as a plan to prepare students for the real professional workplace.

“The expectation is that when you’re in a professional environment that there is a dress code,” Acosta said.

In the past, there were multiple rules in the student conduct handbook overlooked by administrators. They saw some dress code violations, such as dyed hair and piercings, as unnecessary rules because they were not a hindrance to students’ education.

“Some of our APs went to district council and lobbied to take these things out of the dress code,” Acosta said.

The administration team now focuses on dress code violations that are safety concerns or lack modesty, such as hats that block a student’s face, spaghetti straps and short shorts.

“The hats pose a safety threat because when we have something going on in the hallway and need to identify somebody, the cap blocks the camera’s view,” Acosta said. “The others are just modesty issues that you would have to adhere to in any professional workplace.”

The professional media have circulated stories of girls being sent home because their clothes are a distraction. The complainants propose that boys can’t focus in class because of girls whose attire may be deemed provocative.

“That’s ridiculous,” Acosta said. “We’re not trying to protect our young men of the wandering eyes and distractions. We are just trying to keep a professional environment.”

Principal Acosta plans to keep a professional workplace for all students and staff.

“My goal as principal is to keep and continue to grow the culture of McNeil,” Acosta said. “Once you get that, everything else will fall into place.”