Clovis Unified votes against dress code changes

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- The dress code at Clovis Unified will not change despite recommendations and state laws. The policy was set in 1975 and the district has fought to keep the rules the same for years.

On Wednesday night, the school board was considering new rules that would have allowed boys to have long hair and wear earrings but parents stood in opposition. One parent said, "we are distinctly different, I'm so sick and tired of the bullying that is taking place in our country, our state and our community, so many people are bullying in the name of equality."

State law prohibits discrimination based on gender expression and some brought it up at the podium to remind the board. Tod Cook who is a CUSD parent said, "This is not for you to interpret whether you want to be in violation of the law or not."

His words were enough to split the board members. One board member said, "My heart says one thing, my mind says another."

Another board member, Brian Heryford added, "We are in the 40th year of the dress code policy and we're making a change to it and are we changing it because we're scared of a lawsuit? No...we are changing it because, ready for this...it's time for change."

In the end, nothing changed. The board voted 4 to 3 to keep the strict rules in place and the dress code as it is. Kent Glubratich celebrated the decision, "The majority spoke and the majority won, that's the way it should be in America."

Isabel Machado disagrees and she was stunned, "there are people on this board with incredibly anachronistic ideals and that needs to change and maybe we need to think about changing the board."