Beauregard Parish committee adds black to uniform shirt colors, permits denim shorts for elementary; pullover restriction fails

A Beauregard Parish dress‑and‑discipline committee voted on three dress‑code recommendations: it approved adding black to the list of acceptable uniform shirt colors for all grades and approved allowing blue or black denim shorts at the elementary level, while rejecting a proposal to limit pullovers/hoodies and similar pull‑over outerwear to solid school‑approved colors or school‑issued garments.

David Wilson, who led the dress‑code review for the meeting, told the committee that last year’s changes included allowing Henley shirts and that administrators retain discretion to determine appropriate dress. "Plain polo style collared shirt with 2 or 3 buttons... Henley shirts" he said while reviewing the uniform list and examples.

On the first recommendation, the committee voted unanimously to add black to the palette of acceptable uniform shirts pre‑K through 12. Committee members argued the change would make wardrobes more consistent for families with children at multiple grade levels.

The committee debated a proposed restriction on pullovers and hoodies that would have required those items to be solid school‑approved colors or school‑issued. Proponents framed the measure as a safety and identification tool; opponents raised concerns about cost to families and policing enforcement. The motion requiring pullovers to be solid school‑approved or school‑issued failed in the roll call vote.

The committee approved allowing elementary students to wear blue or black denim shorts, citing length and appropriateness concerns at the secondary level. The denim‑shorts allowance was limited to elementary grades only; members cited difficulty finding commercially available, appropriately long denim shorts for older students as a reason not to extend the change to junior high and high school.

Other topics discussed included outerwear (hoodies, pullovers, jackets) and footwear (including Crocs and wheeled shoes). Administrators described safety and supervision concerns with hoods that obstruct faces and with footwear that can slip off on stairs; several principals told the group enforcement varies by school and that enforcement priorities are a local administrative decision.

Votes on the three dress‑code recommendations will be forwarded in committee minutes to the full Beauregard Parish School Board. Staff said the committee’s recommendations will be presented to the board on March 13 for final consideration and inclusion in the next student‑handbook update if adopted.