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Parents question school ban on piercings

LEETONIA — The Leetonia High School dress code regarding nose piercings has come under question by some parents.

Three parents spoke on the issue at the school board meeting Tuesday night — two saying their daughters have studs in a nostril and one saying his son has a ring, also in the nostril. All said three said their child has had the piercing before this school year without a problem.

The parents are asking the school board to reconsider the dress code prohibiting the piercings because they do not believe they are distractions.

“We need a clarification of what piercings are distracting,” said one parent, noting issues such as piercings and jeans with holes (also prohibited) cannot be grouped into overarching categories since there are different types, some distracting, others not.

All three parents said there are bigger concerns regarding distractions than nose piercings, with one pointing out students are using their phones to text and post to social media while in class.

High School Principal Troy Radinsky told the parents and school board no students are being personally targeted regarding the piercings and said the dress code is reviewed every year to address new trends.

“We have to determine what is a distraction and what can be enforced, comfortably, by staff,” he said.

Parents are encouraged to participate in the dress code discussion each year, he added.

Board member Larry Duko added that there is always issues regarding the dress code and the board relies on feedback from students and parents to develop an appropriate policy.

Ultimately, though, whatever the dress code states, the students need to follow it, board member Dan Votaw said.

“If the piercings are prohibited in the handbook, then don’t wear them,” he said. “I don’t understand why this is a problem.”

khowell@salemnews.net

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