The Suffolk School Board is set to take up the issue of cross-dressers in public schools during its meeting tonight.

The issue was first raised last year, when School Board Vice Chair Thelma Hinton said she had heard concerns from teachers and parents about boys wearing women’s clothing at one of the high schools.

“Some of them thought it was a distraction,” she said. “My main target is safety. It’s not about who you are, what you want to be or whatever.”

The new policy would prevent “any clothing worn by a student that is not in keeping with a student’s gender and causes a disruption and/or distracts others from the educational process or poses a health or safety concern.”

The new policy also would specifically prohibit suggestive or revealing attire, sagging pants and shorts, skirts or dresses that rise above fingertip level, clothing that advertises alcohol, drugs or lewd acts, clothing with words across the buttocks and other items.

The current School Board policy is far less specific, stating only, “a student’s dress and appearance shall not be such that it causes disruption, distracts others from the educational process or creates a health or safety problem.” Students are required to comply with specific building-level regulations.

Hinton said she is concerned that boys who wear women’s clothing would be bullied or attacked. The boys she heard of last year — she would not identify which high school the boys attended — would come to the office to use the restroom, because they were afraid to go into the boys’ restroom, Hinton said.

“Anytime freedom of expression exposes any harm to anyone, then there’s a limitation there,” she said. “You cannot go into certain stores wearing certain things. The school is a learning institution. Children should not be dressing certain ways.”

Hinton said the boys reportedly wore sundresses, high-heeled shoes, wigs, Spandex and makeup and carried purses.

“I feel very strongly about it,” Hinton said. “I’m not going to sit there and ignore it. Something could happen to them.”

Other items up for discussion at the 7 p.m. meeting are the 2012-2013 operating budget, the five-year comprehensive plan and the Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School Improvement Plan. Citizen comments on the budget also will be accepted at the 7 p.m. meeting, which will be held in City Council chambers at 441 Market St.