Lehighton school district takes flack over policy

A Lehighton Area School District policy sparked social media chatter Thursday.

Several parents commented on a social media post regarding a policy that requires students to leave jackets or coats in their lockers during the school day. According to the posts, students were told they could “not wear sweatshirts with a zipper on them.”

Middle School Principal Floyd Brown said Friday the issue seems to be a misunderstanding.

“It sounds like a misinterpretation,” Brown said. “If a student wearing a zip up with a hoodie and its part of their outfit, that is not going to be an issue.”

The middle school, he said, also fielded several calls on the issue Friday.

Though it is Brown’s first year as middle school principal, he said the coat and jacket policy has been part of the handbook for at least several years.

“I think that really comes out of safety precautions,” he added.

Middle school officials met with sixth graders on Thursday and seventh and eighth graders on Friday to take a mid-year look at building rules.

“It’s actually the same PowerPoint presentation we do at the beginning of the year,” Brown said. “Nothing changed. I think it just boils down to a misunderstanding.”