Tensions flared last Wednesday Dec. 7 as Sippican Elementary School Principal Evelyn Rivet and Marion School Committee members disagreed over the school’s dress code.

Last month, citing parents’ complaints about “fashion-focused bullying” and increasingly unprofessional dress, the committee charged the School Council - a group of parents, teachers and community members - with the task of circulating a survey to parents asking for comments on the school dress and suggestions for changes.

On Wednesday, the committee was told  by Rivet that the school officials have seen no evidence of fashion-focused bullying, that there were few problems with the dress code in general, thus the survey was not done.

School committee member Christine Winters said she believes the dress code is an issue that parents are concerned with. In response to the School Council’s findings on the matter, Winters said, since she first voiced their concerns, parents have thanked her for the School Committee’s handling of the matter.

“The School Council is a component of our community but not our entire community,” Winters said. “[The survey] is for gathering information at this point.”

Winters, as well as committee member Michelle Ouellette, voiced the concerns from parents during the School Committee meeting on Nov. 2.

Winters said the concerns she heard from parents related to students dressing inappropriately.  Spaghetti-strap tank tops and t-shirts, she said, were a few of the problems mentioned.

Ouellette said parents saying students were being bullied over clothing labels approached her about what they saw as an issue with the dress code.

“From what I’ve heard it’s about the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots,’” Ouellette said.

Winters also said the issue is not about instituting uniforms but instead a more professional look such as collared shirts and khakis. The School Committee suggested to Rivet that the School Council circulate a survey among the parents to get a consensus of the popular opinion.

At the Dec. 7 meeting, however, Rivet told the School Committee there was not sufficient evidence of the dress code being a problem.

“We have had no reports in terms of bullying or incidents related to clothing,” Rivet said.

Although surveys to parents have not been sent out, Rivet said the School Council members have chosen to review the existing dress code and make some changes as needed.

“We would like to review our current dress code and tighten it up,” Rivet said. “We would like to stay in with the laws but still allow for freedom of expression.”

In response, the School Committee members asked Rivet to go back to the School Council for further discussion and, again, they asked that the School Council circulate a survey among the parents.

“I understand the reasons against the survey, but I would also like to see the results of that survey,” said Committee Chairman Brad Gordon.

Rivet said the School Council did discuss a possible two-question survey for parents to take online, and the School Committee gave Rivet the green light to send it out. To view the dress code survey click here.

In other business:

School district business administrator, Katie Isernio, assured the School Committee that the remaining budget for 2012 is sound.

As of now, the budget stands at $428,627.41, which Isernio said should be solid for the school year.