Dress code enforcement priority for this school year

by Matthew Stephens

On Monday, August 19, Yosemite High School kicked off a new year. And, as 7:50 a.m. struck on clocks across the campus, the 2002-2003 school year got underway, as some 1,130 students prepared for a new year.

One of the biggest things that welcomed students this year was the new enforcement of the dress code. Last year the teachers were asked to do the enforcing. This year, the task has been given to the campus supervisors. Why the change, one may be asking.

YHS Principal Steve Raupp said that last year’s plan was taking class time away from the teachers. And, more importantly, taking away valuable time from learning. It wasn’t working either, and that is why they have changed the focus for this year.

The dress code, which became a growing problem towards the end of the previous school year, has become a major priority and concern among parents, community people and staff.

On the first day of this school year alone, some 50 cases were reported and attended to. By the end of the week, however, that number dropped to 15. The school has bought 150 tee-shirts for dress code violators, and hopefully last year’s problems won’t spill over into this year.

Another thing that started off the year was the addition of over 20 new staff members. Ten of those 20-plus new YHS staff members are teachers. From band to social science, to special education, a fresh new staff has arrived.

When asked his opinion on the new teachers and staff, Raupp said "Bringing in new blood is always good." He also said the new teachers are very highly qualified and energetic, and he is quite proud to have these new YSH folks.

The 2002-2003 school year, which has been underway for quite some time now, had the addition of yet another new program. Last year, the campus saw the major addition of the Environmental and Spatial Technology program lab (EAST). This year Yosemite High School has acquired the Advancement Via Individual Determination program (AVID).

AVID has been designed to help and encourage students to go to college. It was created in 1980, and now serves over 65,000 students in more than 800 schools across the state of California. It has so far, as an overall organization, registered a very encouraging success rate, with 92 percent of its students going on to a four-year college. And, to make things even better, 89 percent of those are still at their college after two years. Raupp says he expects, definitely, an increase in YHS students going onto college, and that he is pleased to have the program.

So, is this just another year at YHS? This school year, which marks the 26th one since the opening of YHS in September of 1976, may be more than just another school year, according to Raupp. In one last statement, despite some of the dress code situations and other problems, he said, "In many ways, this is the best start we have had."