46 Penn Hills HS students suspended for violating dress code, which bans hoodies

PENN HILLS, Pa. — Forty-six Penn Hills High School students were suspended in four days last week because of dress code violations, according to a Penn Hills School District spokesperson.

The suspensions were issued between Monday and Thursday, stemming from “various dress code violations,” Teresita Kolenchak, the district’s communications consultant, said.

Although specifics of the violations were not addressed by the district, Channel 11 News was told by several viewers that the suspensions were the result of students wearing hoodies, which were banned in a district dress code change that went into effect for the 2016-2017 school year.

Kolenchak said the reported “hoodie incidents” last week were exaggerated.

“We have actually been very pleased with the level of cooperation from both parents and students on this issue,” Kolenchak said.

According to the dress code, hoodies cannot be worn during the school day and any student who wears one to school must take it off and put it in their backpack or locker. The district said the hood presents a safety concern and could also disrupt the educational process.

However, some parents and students who spoke with Channel 11 News Monday called the policy unfair and the punishment for breaking it too severe.

"We're supposed to go to school for an education, and you're suspending us, preventing us from getting an education, for wearing a hoodie,” Penn Hills High School junior Martha Nesmith said.

Martha said before the new policy went into effect, she had not heard of any issues related to hoodies at school.

"The school never had a problem with it. I never had my hood up in school, and a lot of students never have their hood up in school,” she said.

Parents who spoke with Channel 11 News said their children wear hoodies to school for warmth, not with malice. They also said the number of suspension was much higher than 46.

A request on Monday for further comment about the suspension number and whether any plans to change the policy were being reviewed went unanswered by district officials.

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