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SCHENECTADY
District to allow beads, bandanas
Rule aimed at gang-related apparel led to lawsuit
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter

    Schenectady students can now wear beads and bandanas and other such apparel to school.
    The Board of Education on Wednesday approved a change to the district’s code of conduct, eliminating the sentence that bans any apparel deemed gangrelated.
    The district came under fi re for its suspension this past spring of 13-year-old Raymond Hosier, who insisted on wearing purple rosary beads to school. Hosier said he was honoring the memory of his deceased brother and uncle. The American Center for Law and Justice filed a lawsuit in federal court. The school later said Hosier could wear the beads.
    Interim Superintendent John Yagielski decided that the policy should be changed and the focus shifted to students’ behavior rather than what they are wearing.
    Hosier’s mother, Chantell Hosier, told the board the district was labeling all kids as bad with the old policy. “There are a great deal of good children here in Schenectady and they outweigh the gangbangers, the bad kids,” she said. She also said the policy did not make sense. “I have never ever seen a gang member wearing rosary beads to identify each other,” she said. Hosier also told the media the district is dropping that part of the policy as part of a settlement of the case. She is also seeking that her son’s disciplinary record be expunged. Monetary damages are being discussed, which she said should be resolved shortly. However, she said this case was never about the money: “They don’t have any money.”
    She also said school officials should have defended her son’s right to wear the rosary.
    “They know my kids aren’t gang members and they won’t speak out. They didn’t do anything in this whole process,” she said.
    She has since moved to the Schalmont Central School District.
    “I moved my children out of the Schenectady school district soon after this happened because I don’t believe they got a fair shake,” she said.
    The vote was 5-2 in favor of the change, with board members Lisa Russo and Diane Herrmann voting in opposition. ......................>>>>...................>>>>......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01302&AppName=1

WTH!!!! why not uniforms.......or doesn't that fit in with the artsy fartsy Schenectady city theme..????