Catasauqua Area School District students may have to alter their fashion selections when school starts a year from now.

In a split vote at the Aug. 12 meeting, the Catasauauqa School Board voted to reopen discussions regarding changing the district-wide dress code policy. That discussion will begin next month.

School Board members Dawn Berrigan and Carol McCarthy voted in opposition to considering a policy revision.

Two years ago the board voted to adopt an updated dress code policy that prohibited certain clothing styles, such as tight-fitting clothing, shirts, dresses or skirts above the knee, sagging pants, pajamas and sleepwear. Also prohibited are clothing with holes, cuts, rips or tears.

McCarthy adamantly spoke out against altering the current policy.

"What happened to we were doing fine with the dress code?" McCarthy asked.

School board President Penny Hahn said she has been approached by individuals in the school buildings who have not been pleased with the overall apparel choices of the students.

"I've had people come to me," Hahn said. "They had concerns with what kids were wearing. They felt it was getting too far."

The proposed policy to be discussed, if adopted, would require students to wear collared shirts, khaki pants and certain colors.

Board member Dawn Berrigan asked McCarthy why she is opposed to the district moving to a more restrictive dress code policy.

"I think it's a whole lot of effort for what little we're going to get out of it," McCarthy said.

She argued there would be an extra cost associated with students required to buy particular clothing.

Board member Mary Alice Hartranft said there would not be an additional cost incurred by parents since the dress code would require a wardrobe with fewer clothing styles.

McCarthy stressed she would instead like the board to tackle other issues within the district and community.

"As far as I'm concerned we have a hell of a lot of things more important," she said.

Hahn said she wants to see students "all nicely dressed" when she walks into the three schools in the district.

The reason the school board is considering a more stringent dress code policy is because it is time-consuming for teachers and administrators to enforce the current dress code policy.

Catasauqua High School Principal David Ascani said the high school has had to deal with students who are told to correct a dress code infraction who later, when they are out of the view of a teacher or administrator, continue to wear their clothing in a fashion that is prohibited by the policy.

Ascani said the issue rests with 10 to 15 percent of the student population. Dress code issues still existing at the middle and high schools involve pants that are below the waistline and tight jeans and pants.

"The dress policy takes time," Ascani told the board. "Kids come in. They're not dressed properly. We deal with it."

Catasauqua Middle School Assistant Principal Bryan Klass agreed with Ascani.

"It takes a tremendous amount of time to process," he said of dealing with dress code violators.

McCarthy said she believes a change in policy will not make a marked difference, overall.

Hahn, however, said an updated policy is a step in the right direction.

"It's still a beginning start where [students] are all on the same playing field," Hahn said.

The board will meet Sept. 3 and 9 at 7 p.m. in the district administration office board room.