By Joanna Miller, Correspondent

A new Prior Lake High School policy will leave ball caps – and other head gear – in the field this fall.

Prior Lake Assistant Principal Jeff Pawlicki gained approval from the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board Monday to ban head coverings in the high school building Monday.

Exceptions will be made for students who wear head coverings for religious or medical reasons, such as a student going through chemotherapy.

Why the crackdown on caps?

Pawlicki said caps have been at the top of the list of small items that can cause major headaches for supervisors. What begins as a student stealing a cap from another student has escalated into fights at times.

Board Member Tom Anderson said while high-schoolers may not agree with the policy, it makes sense.

“My son would say that’s pretty dumb to have that [rule],” Anderson said. However, Anderson said disputes at the school over hats are “a major waste of time. I think it’s going to save a lot of headaches.”

Pawlicki said students and parents will be notified multiple times of the change through e-mails and mailings and by teachers on the first day of school.

The consequences for wearing hats will follow a three-strike system. On the first offense, the student can pick up the hat at the end of the day. On the second offense, the student’s parent must pick it up. On the third offense, the staff member will hold onto the item until returning it at the end of the school year.

Pawlicki acknowledged that for a lot of students, it will be a big deal to not bring hats to school.

Board Member Diane Ziemann congratulated the high school staff for making the change.

“I think it’s long overdue,” Ziemann said. “I applaud you for stepping up to the plate.”

 Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com.