CANFIELD — Students in the district may no longer be able to wear Crocs after the Canfield school board Wednesday discussed updating its student handbook and dress code to ban the popular footwear.

“The footwear is a concern at the elementary schools,” Superintendent Joe Knoll said. “We were told there have been multiple injuries stemming from wearing this footwear.”

The actual wording in the manuals, according to Knoll, bans all flip flops, slides, clogs and Crocs.

“Parents aren’t going to like this,” board member Betsy Ahlquist said.

Board President Nader Atway asked if there was an actual ban, or asking parents to work with the district. Knoll said the handbook would make it a ban as it is written right now.

Board member Matt Campbell said, “It is all about safety.”

All board members agreed to put the student handbooks on hold until a special June 28 board meeting to give everyone time to consider the Crocs ban.

BOND ISSUE ON BALLOT

Also Wednesday, the board voted to place a school improvement bond before voters in November. The bond would be just over $64.1 million and would build a new middle school.

“The nearly $3 million we are spending this summer will not be part of that,” Atway said. “It will be coming from our school budget.”

He said the board is doing what it can to keep the levy amount low.

The issue was unanimously approved by the board, and Atway added this would initiate going on the ballot.

Another unanimous approval was given to award $72,877 to Jim Santini Builders Inc. to construct a secure vestibule at C.H. Campbell Elementary.

“It came in less than we expected,” Knoll said. “The goal is to be done by the start of school, which is always a concern for me.”

He said the builders will immediately be notified so materials can be ordered.

The bid process for Hilltop Elementary School’s secure vestibule is underway and Knoll hopes to be able to open the bids and make a recommendation at the June 28 special meeting.