Kingsburg Parents Divided Over Dress Code

FRESNO, California In January, the district decided to enforce a dress code policy banning the uniforms but soon backed off after parents expressed outrage. Tuesday, they held a meeting to hear from the community. Parents at the meeting were divided. "The right of all students to feel included in school and be free from intimidation, or even perceived intimidation, supersedes the right of some students to dress a certain way," said parent Anna Pendergrass.

Others feel the discipline problem shouldn't have turned into a dress code issue. "The school does have a problem, and that needs to be addressed. But I think we have to attack the problem, and not the symptom," said parent Gabriel Castellanos.

The chair of Kingsburg Youth Football, Paul Aslan, met with other community sports teams recently. Tuesday, he outlined a list of proposed rules to keep teams accountable and also keep the longstanding Kingsburg tradition alive. "The administrators say there are signs of bullying or aggression. Okay, I don't dispute that. But let's see if we could find out why and treat the problem rather than ban them altogether," said Aslan.

Members of the school board expect a decision by May that would go into effect next fall.