Dress codes under Halifax Regional School Board's microscope tonight

At least one Halifax Regional School Board member hopes any new decisions about dress codes will be fair to both male and female students.

The board will discuss a new report on dress codes at a meeting Wednesday night.

"Most of the stories I read are about girls so I want to make sure that if we have dress codes in our schools that they're equitable," said District 5 board member Christy Linders.

As it stands, dress codes are not done at the board level. Principals are responsible for dress codes at their individual schools.

Linders says there have been issues in Canada and the Halifax school board wants to be proactive. She says that could be in the way of a board-wide policy or adding a dress code back into the code of conduct.

Earlier this month students in Montreal protested a dress code that forbids crop tops and any clothes considered too short, too tight or too tattered. A Moncton student made headlines this year when she was reprimanded for wearing a dress that exposed her shoulders.

"If we see something happening we need to look at it," said Linders. "I want to be able to support and guide principals so that they can help and support and guide students."

Like most school boards in the country, Linders says the Halifax Regional School Board has heard complaints about schools' dress codes, but it "hasn't been a major issue."

The report looks at what other boards in the country are doing when it comes to students' dress.

The board with discuss the policy before they decide any future plans.