A change in the dress code will clarify some earlier discussion over wearing T-shirts in the Lamar County School District during the 2018-19 school year, along with wearing hooded sweatshirts.
Superintendent Tess Smith said allowing school-specific T-shirts has been discussed in the school system for a few years.
“Early this year, I received a letter from a staff member who is also a parent to five of our students,” she said. “She made some outstanding points that were worth considering in regards to dress code.”
Smith said school officials also allowed students to wear T-shirts on certain occasions if they paid for the privilege.
“Over the years, we often ask students to pay say a $1 to wear a T-shirt,” she said. “I sometimes did it myself as a principal. In the past few years, I have heard from some parents that said we were asking students to pay to break a rule. If we are going to allow them, then we need to allow them.”
Not allowing students to wear hoodies has also caused confusion over the years, Smith said.
“That has just been a hard one to define and oversee,” she said. “Going forward, hoodies are allowed, but the hoods must be down while on bus or school property for safety just as on any other jacket.”
