Logan board revises student dress code

The board for Logan Municipal Schools last Monday approved revisions to the student dress code involving hair length, facial piercings and tattoos.

Superintendent Dennis Roch said in an email to the Quay County Sun it had been five years since the last formal review of the dress code, so he and principal Crystal Burns convened a committee of students, parents and staff to examine it and identify areas for possible updates.

"I commend both the committee and the school board for designing a well-balanced dress code which prevents distraction from the learning environment while still allowing students to display their individuality," Roch wrote.

The revised code eliminated gender-specific grooming requirements, including hair length. Length of hair no longer is limited "as long as hair does not cover a student's eyes or otherwise impede vision."

Deleted was a section that stated hair would not be below the bottom of the collar or cover the ear. The code also eliminates a prohibition on tails in hair.

A prohibition on visible tattoos was changed. It now bans them from the neck up. It prohibits tattoos below the neck that include "violent, obscene, vulgar or inappropriate words or images."

A ban on facial piercings was modified. In the current code, no one will be allowed more than two standard-sized facial piercings. The number of piercings per ear will not be limited to two, but at no bigger than the standard post size.

The code reinstated a ban on sleepwear, such as pajama pants, boxers or slippers.

In the revised code, shorts and skirts may be worn if they are no shorter than the extended fingertips of the wearer's arms hanging down.

Deleted was a section that specified shorts and skirts be no shorter than "4 inches from the top of the knee."

Also deleted was a requirement they be "clean, in good condition, have no holes."

Form-fitting pants, including leggings and tights, may be worn if they are "not inappropriately revealing." A section that required such pants being covered by another garment was deleted.

Also, holes in pants must not reveal any skin higher "than the extended fingertips of the wearer's arms hanging straight down." It adds that pants should not drag "excessively" on the floor.

Board President Toby Willis expressed a few reservations about the code revisions, saying portions of it were "ambiguous."

He wondered who determines "inappropriateness" of garments, and he preferred the code to be "clear and measurable."

Willis said while he supported the revised code, he wanted to ensure administrators had a clear direction in enforcing it.

In other business:

- The board approved revisions to the student handbook.

One revision addressed senior-sponsored trips. For the Class of 2026, the trip would be limited to no more than four days and three nights. For the Class of 2027, the trip would be limited to no more than three days and two nights.

Beginning with the Class of 2028, senior trips will be replaced by district-sponsored educational trips for grades six through 12.

The board decided to address senior trips after the Class of 2024 and the forthcoming Class of 2025 scheduled trips to Alaska in May, forcing a change of graduation dates from the traditional Memorial Day weekend to mid-June.

Another revision deals with athletic participation, where sixth-grade students may participate on junior high teams except where prohibited by the New Mexico Activities Association. Such participation will be limited to home games, though road games can be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

Another change was the elimination of a competency exam for graduating seniors due to a change in state law.

Other revisions dealt with fundraising activities and excessive absences.

- The board unanimously approved a two-year contract extension for Roch after a closed executive session.

The board awarded him a 3.725% raise from the previous school year. He will be paid $143,140 annually.

Roch's contract now expires in June 2026. Roch has been Logan's superintendent since 2013.

- Roch informed the board he was named New Mexico Superintendent of the Year by his peers.

He said he will receive the honor later this month. Roch surmised he received the award because he volunteered to testify during the opening hearing of state superintendents association's lawsuit against the New Mexico Public Education Department over its 180-day instruction calendar.

Roch also received the award in 2021.

- The board approved a final draft from Cisneros Design of Santa Fe for the school's new sports logo.

The three final versions shown to the board each prominently showed a head of a Texas Longhorn, with minor differences in the lettering fonts.

- Roch said he anticipated a decision by July 29 by a Roswell judge regarding the lawsuit against the PED regarding its proposed 180-day instruction calendar.

Roch said mediation between the parties is scheduled for July 22, but he didn't expect a result from that.

- Roch said an Albuquerque law firm sent the district a letter, stating it is proposing a class-action lawsuit against social media companies for their alleged effects on student mental health.