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Board endorses guidance to allow decorated caps and supports Native regalia with administrator oversight
Summary
Administrators proposed, and the board supported, guidance permitting students to decorate graduation caps within limits (no obscene content, no protruding items); Native American students and an LEC representative offered to advise administrators on culturally appropriate regalia.
The board discussed guidance for graduation cap decorations and signaled support for permitting student‑decorated caps within reasonable constraints.
Administrators asked what the board wanted included in the graduation guidance letter. The superintendent said he could circulate a brochure recommending students may decorate caps "appropriately" while noting limits such as no obscene content and restrictions on items that protrude. The district referred to state law that requires allowing Native American and military students to wear regalia and said administrators have discretion to ask students to remove items deemed inappropriate.
An elected LEC (Lakota Education Committee) representative addressed the board and offered the committee as a resource to advise administrators on culturally specific regalia. The representative said last year’s Native regalia participation "was the best time of her life" for a graduate and urged the board to allow students to represent their traditions.
Board members discussed operational responses — supplying plain caps if necessary, asking students to submit designs in advance in questionable cases, and using principal discretion for appropriateness. The board asked staff to share the planned letter with board members for comment before distribution to families.
Outcome: The board supported allowing decorated caps with administrative guidance and community consultation, especially to accommodate Native American regalia in line with state law.
