By Colleen Moir, Managing Editor

During the first week of school, students expect change to come into their lives: new classes, new teachers and new friends, to name a few. This year, Career Center students have experienced all of the usual changes plus some new surprises.

Enrollment at Career Center has increased from about 1,800 students last year to approximately 2,300 this year. Principal Dennis Moser attributed the increase to several things. He said that because Career Center enjoyed a smooth transition to its new campus before registration last year, any worries students had about traveling to the new location were resolved before signing up for classes. He also said the school’s programs are sparking more interest.

“Enrollment has gone back up to where it was two to three years ago,” Moser said. “(This year) all our programs that were under-filled are now filled, and all our classes are bigger.”

The increased enrollment has impacted the way students are able to park at the Career Center. According to Moser, there are more cars than there are lined spaces during the day’s morning classes, forcing students to park much closer together.

“We’re hoping to increase bus ridership and carpooling if enrollment continues to increase,” Moser said. “Bus ridership is up this year. We have 170 kids riding buses to first period currently, but we still need to increase bus ridership. For this to happen, the bus needs to become a more class-schedule-friendly option.”

Another change this year is the Career Center’s newly enforced dress code. According to Moser, all students are expected to have shorts no shorter in length than mid-thigh. Girls are to have “adequate coverage” on their upper bodies, and there are to be no hats worn on campus at all.

“This dress code is not a change,” Moser said. “(These past few years) the student body has been dressed less and less appropriately for school. It’s important that students think that they’re coming to learn. Their style of dress needs to be reflective of an educational institution. By enforcing the dress code, we’re just trying to call attention to the rules that have already been there.”

While students are enjoying some of the extra freedoms that the Career Center offers, many have expressed their objection to the dress code.

“(Career Center) is great,” junior Emma Stinson said. “I love the freedom. I don’t like the dress code, but it’s tolerable.”

Added senior Emily Troxell: “They’ve always said Career Center is supposed to be so similar to college, but now they’ve implemented this new dress code and it feels like the opposite.”

As students weigh the pros and cons of the changes, Moser has a positive outlook.

“I think we’ll have a great school year,” Moser said. “I applaud our student body and the choices they’ve made in coming here.”