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Students persuade Natchitoches Parish board to allow two spirit‑shirt colors; motion passes
Summary
Students from Natchitoches Central urged the board to add a second approved spirit‑shirt color to ease costs and increase student pride; the board amended and approved a policy change requiring schools to offer at least two approved spirit‑shirt color options, vote unanimous.
Students representing Natchitoches Central told the school board on May 12 that a small change to the dress code could help families and boost school pride, and the board voted to require each school to offer at least two approved spirit‑shirt colors.
Tara Sapp, the speech teacher who introduced the student team, brought forward a group that included Mariah Holloman and Jace Henson. Holloman summarized student survey results: “Many students agree that uniforms can be positive... Over 88% of Niagara Central High School survey agreed that they would like to have other uniform shirt options,” she said, arguing the change would preserve structure while letting students feel more like individuals.
Jace Henson, who led the students’ research on flexibility, said the proposal was practical and already in place at other Louisiana schools. “Offering options does not weaken a uniform policy,” Henson said. Student Ella Eloy added, “Today, we are not asking to remove uniforms. By adding an approved shirt option, we can maintain everything our current uniform policy was designed to protect,” and said spirit shirts could also lower clothing costs for families.
After the presentation the board amended a recommended motion to specify that spirit shirts must comply with district code and administrative guidelines and that each school must offer a minimum of two approved colors for spirit shirts of the same design. The board handled procedure amendments on the floor and adopted the change in a roll‑call vote. The roll call recorded affirmative votes by all members present; the chair announced the motion passed.
The superintendent noted a handbook update cycle and said an affirmative vote would be reflected in the student handbook at the end‑of‑month handbook review. Students were invited to leave or stay for the rest of the meeting after the vote; board members praised their presentation and courage in speaking before the board.
The change will be implemented through the district’s handbook and by school administrative guidelines; specific color selections will be decided at the school level within the policy framework the board approved.
