Keep your pants on

POST FALLS — Modern uniforms give cheerleaders the flexibility they require to perform athletic aerial routines while improving school spirit at athletic events.

But this year, officials at Post Falls High School have followed their Kootenai County counterparts in telling the cheer squad what works for flips does not work in the classroom.

"They're not really designed for sitting and going up stairs," said Post Falls Superintendent Jerry Keane.

So this year, Principal Chris Sensel asked the cheer coach to inform the athletes they need to wear either leggings or school-issued sweatpants underneath the skirts if they plan on wearing the outfits to school on game days. The move is all about consistency, Keane said, because the skirts are all the same length and, as such, are worn differently by each team member.

Any student who chooses to not wear leggings or sweatpants will be asked to change.

"We treat it like any other dress code issue," Keane said. "There will always be students who challenge the dress code and we are trying to be reasonable about it."

The same compromise occurred in the Coeur d'Alene School District in 2012, when officials also determined that the dress code for students during the school day applied to the uniforms as well. They allowed the cheerleaders to continue wearing their uniforms to school, as long as they also wore warm-ups or leggings underneath their skirts.

Keane added that it is his understanding that the same protocol is followed at Lakeland High School.

"These are competitive cheerleaders," Keane said. "I don't have anything that's not positive to say about them. They just need to adhere to the dress code and I think this is a good balance."