Instead, the district formed a committee composed of 30 LISD stakeholders to ensure that the dress code does not contain wording that could potentially promote racial or gender biases.
John Graham, one of the district’s three area superintendents, told trustees that an email was going to be sent to committee members after the trustees’ meeting. Trustees recommended to Graham individuals that had reached out to them regarding the dress code.
Graham said the email will propose setting up a first meeting and researching the issue before that meeting.
“We have good representation across the district and at all three levels,” Graham said.
According to LISD spokesperson Matt Mitchell, the 30-person committee will be composed of eight males and 22 females that include: seven parents, six principals and assistant principals, five central office employees, three students (two high school, one middle school), three high school teachers, two middle school principals, two elementary school principals and two trustees.
In the past two years, some citizens speaking at LISD meetings during dress code discussions have alleged that the current code adversely affects minority and female students.
Penalties for LISD dress code violations include the following
- First offense: student makes clothing change and receives a warning; parents are contacted
- Second offense: lunch, before- or after-school detention hall; parents are contacted
- Third offense: in-school suspension or Saturday detention; parents are contacted
Since the state Legislature is not meeting this year, LISD did not propose changes to the code of conduct.
The student code of conduct and dress code may be viewed at the LISD website.
