Clovis Unified looking to makes changes to dress code policy

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Clovis Unified took another look at the controversial dress code during a school board meeting Wednesday night and discussed changes to make it gender neutral.

A former student said,"You're not just talking about students, these are children."

Since 1975, the district has been enforcing separate rules for boys and girls. Boys can't wear earrings and dresses or have long hair like the girls but a revised policy is on the table with those rules crossed out.

Isabel Machado of Clovis said, "The fact that this was an issue shocked me and it still shocks me."

She says it's a step in the right direction but she's concerned about some of the language, "As a lawyer, I have to tell you, some of this stuff really needs to be defined," Machado said.

She says it's the fine details that need to be defined. Under the revised policy, hair or mustache styles that cause "undue attention" are still not allowed along with "exotic jewelry" and tattoos, unless a student petitions for a waiver. Even then, exemptions would only be granted for a few reasons like religious beliefs or medical issues.

Abre' Conner who is a lawyer with the ACLU added, "and once the district denies a waiver, students have no recourse to getting any kind of review or reconsideration."

In the end, Dustin Hamel was the only person who spoke against change, "I would be in favor of uniforms," he said, "I would go the other way and that would take away all of this problem of people being different."

The board listened to both side but no decision was made. The dress code will be back on the agenda next week and the changes will be up for a vote.