The Hollister high school worked closely with the San Benito
County Sheriff’s Office to compile a list of items identified by
law enforcement as being gang-related, said Sheriff Curtis
Hill.
In light of what Sheriff Curtis Hill calls a “big increase” in gang activity at San Benito High School, the district will enact a stricter dress code policy starting Wednesday that bans use of clothing with specific cities, the California flag, logos such as Nor Cal and other items.
The school had a recorded message from Principal Krystal Lomanto called to every student’s home – the district also sent an e-mail – which specifies exactly what types of gang-related apparel will be banned from campus.
The high school worked closely with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office to compile a list of items identified by law enforcement as being gang-related, said Sheriff Curtis Hill.
“Our school resource officers made recommendations based on the bottom line of this issue, which is that there has been a big increase in Norteno and Sureno activity at the school,” said Hill, who has an 18-year-old son at the school himself. “It is a good call by Principal Lomanto and Superintendent Rose, and I support the high school in their decision.”
Neither Lomanto nor Rose immediately returned phone calls from the Free Lance seeking comments about the decision.
The change refines what had been a policy banning gang-related clothing in general.
According to the e-mail message sent out, the dress code is being implemented to address “recent clothing trends on campus and in the community.” It goes on to cite the Education Code that establishes gang-related apparel is not a protected form of speech. “Safety on campus,” reads the announcement, “is crucial to providing an academic environment that fosters student success.
The new list from the high school is printed in its entirety below:
No items with So Cal, Nor Cal, Cen Cal, South Pole, North Cali or Ecko Unlimited or related articles
No items with a reference to the California flag, map, star or bear
No items with reference to specific city and or area code. Therefore, no 831 or 408 clothing
No items with 187 or any type of weapon displayed
No items with any reference to North, South, West or East Side
No red, blue or black key chains or lanyards dangling from clothing
No red, brown or blue belts
