Parent tells Monroe County School Board dress-code enforcement humiliates students, urges change

Cassie Kirkland, a parent, told the Monroe County School Board that the district’s enforcement of its student dress code has humiliated her children and other students and should be changed.

Kirkland spoke during public comment and said her daughters have been "dress coded" multiple times this school year for shorts that she measured as two inches above the knee. She said she brought a measuring tape and photos to a school office to show staff that the shorts met the stated standard.

Kirkland said educators have addressed students about dress code in front of their classmates, which she described as humiliating. "I have also witnessed firsthand educators address a child in a class over dress code in front of the whole class, and it definitely humiliated this little girl," she said. She said a petition on social media includes more than 50 parents asking the district to return to a fingertip-length standard for shorts, skirts and dresses.

Kirkland also criticized what she described as inconsistent enforcement between boys and girls and urged the board to consider a uniform policy to avoid repeated dress-code disputes. "I think it's time that we look at uniforms in Monroe County. That'll solve the hoodies. That'll solve the shorts," she said.

Board members thanked Kirkland for speaking and asked whether she had taken the issue up with school administrators; Kirkland said she had spoken to school staff and the principal but wanted the policy committee to consider the matter at a future meeting.

No board action on dress-code policy was recorded at the meeting; the comment was received during the public-comment portion of the agenda and the board did not vote on any dress-code changes.