Student representatives press board on dress code, self-defense; board adopts code with guidance on campus interpretation

Two student board representatives addressed the Marion County School Board Aug. 26 during board comments and public remarks, urging clearer, more equitable dress-code enforcement and asking that the student-conduct code explicitly allow defensive actions to protect others.

Julia Slaughter, a senior and student board representative from Vanguard High School, told the board that many female students — especially taller or fuller-figured students — find it difficult to comply with rules written around measures such as “fingertip length.” Slaughter said the district’s clothing rules sometimes create unequal outcomes. “I think dress code is too restrictive in that sense because it's kind of impossible for girls who are tall or have a fuller figure to find shorts,” she said, adding that tank tops should be judged by how revealing they are rather than banned outright. Slaughter also asked the board to consider expanding the self-defense language to include defense of others in circumstances where a student is at risk of serious injury.

Board members discussed enforcement language in the code and agreed the board intentionally used a midpoint standard — “mid-thigh” — rather than rigid measuring rules (fingertip length or ruler measurements) to give schools flexibility. Board members asked staff to publish clearer campus-level guidelines so families and students would have consistent expectations at each school.

The board adopted the 2025–26 code of student conduct by a 5–0 vote after the public hearing and brief board discussion.