Bay District board adopts revised dress code allowing leggings and joggers with limits

At a Tuesday afternoon meeting at the Nelson Building, the Bay District School Board approved a revision to dress code policy 7.209 that permits leggings and joggers under specified conditions and narrows approved tops to school-color crewneck T-shirts or club/team spirit shirts.

Superintendent McQueen, who led a months-long task force of teachers, parents, students, principals and community partners, said the group's guidance was simple: make the rule easy to apply, emphasize safety and keep costs low for families. "The only thing I said about that is that they need to cover their midsection," McQueen said when describing the task force's recommendation on leggings.

The board voted to adopt the policy with two explicit caveats: leggings may be worn provided they are not sheer and are paired with a skirt, dress, shirt or jumper that reaches at least mid-thigh; and jogger-style pants are permitted only if they are fitted (cuffed) at the ankle and are not made of sweatpants material. The chair said the change is intended to give principals a quick visual cue for campus safety while keeping the dress code affordable for families.

Supporters and critics alike spoke during the public hearing. Students and parents asked how the policy would be enforced across grade levels and whether elementary and secondary leggings are the same product: one student asked whether the policy would address sagging pants among male students and described seeing exposed underwear, prompting staff to point to existing waist/fit provisions. District staff described a dress-code "closet" used at some schools to temporarily supply approved items so students can remain in class.

Board Member Moore moved to approve the revised 7.209, and Board Member Chester seconded the motion. The motion carried by roll call; the transcript records one dissent during the roll call and the chair confirmed the board had approved the changes. The board set the policy to take effect at the start of the 2025-26 school year to give families and staff time to prepare.

Administrators said enforcement will combine parent responsibility, consistent application by school staff, and practical measures such as donated shirts and a dress-code closet to avoid repeated classroom interruptions. The board and superintendent also noted the proposed rules are less strict than district policy in place before Hurricane Michael and said the intent was not to reinstitute pre-storm mandates but to provide clear, enforceable guardrails.

The board took a five-minute break immediately after the vote and then resumed the remainder of the meeting.