TIM PRATT
STARKVILLE — A steady stream of parents and community members filed into the Starkville Sportsplex multi-purpose building Thursday night to join an appeal against the Starkville School District’s recent decision to implement a dress code policy beginning this fall.
The group, led by Booneville-based attorneys Daniel Tucker and Allison Worley, is seeking a temporary restraining order, a permanent injunction and other relief from the Starkville School District’s board of trustees and Superintendent Judy Couey. Along with Couey, board members Eddie Myles, Walter Taylor, Bill Weeks, Pickett Wilson and Keith Coble are named as defendants.
More than 100 people signed affidavits to join the appeal, which Tucker plans to file today in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.
The appeal says that, following the Feb. 2 board of trustees meeting, the board determined requiring uniforms would be considered a fee, which would require the school district to issue hardship waivers, and that more than 60 percent of students in the SSD qualify for the free lunch program and would therefore qualify for a hardship waiver relating to the required uniforms. It also states the school board determined the district could not afford to clothe more than 60 percent of its student population and therefore could not impose a uniform requirement, so the SSD altered the uniform policy by changing the word “uniform” to “dress code.”
The appeal also alleges the board of trustees changed the wording from uniform to dress code to avoid financial obligation to those SSD students who would have qualified for a hardship waiver.
“The dress code, as adopted, is effectively a uniform policy requiring the purchase of a specific type of clothing …,” the appeal reads.
The board of trustees has stated safety concerns as one of its main reasons for adopting the dress code, but the appeal alleges the board’s decision came without “substantive evidence to show how a uniform dress code will improve safety and security in the Starkville School District.”
Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.
Leroy says I almost at a loss fo words after reading ko’s letta to the edita in today’s Clarion Ledger. Leroy disagrees with ko- this ain’t a race deal. Leroy says if yous for uniforms, ok, and if yous against uniforms, ok, but don’t be throwing the race card in. Leroy says the peeps on the CL say it all- 3 pages of comments and not a single person agrees w/ko. Leroy says argue on merits and don’t be throwin no race card in cause doin so embarrasses not only the writer, but our town & State, too!
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20105100329
Interesting that we haven’t seen that on the SSD Parents groups/communal blogs.
Leroy, darling, I love this one from a MarleneisRight:
“Replying to Mongo:
What? We can’t tell the Crips from the Bloods now??
Of all the post on this subject, I think you are the closest to the truth ! How do they know each other without the colors, the tilted hat and matching shoes ! I do believe that FHd that wrote this letter, needs to see a PHd ! Maybe in an acute care unit until the correct dosage of anti-psychotic medication is reached ! OH YEAH ! they would probably put her in a suicide suit and it would match all the other patients, So it could be considered a UNIFORM !”
And also this one from a “JustBroomin”:
“This is in my top 10 list of the most obsurd views I’ve ever seen sent in to the Clarion Ledger. Boy, oh boy, I have certainly heard it all now!!!”
Welcome to the rest of the state, Starkville. Where people aren’t as polite as we’ve been.
Today’s comment, from a Mongo:
“On a more serious note, do you really want to know what promotes racism, Ms. PhD? People screaming racism at every opportunity. You take coincidence and create racism. You take obscure stats and create racism. If a white guy gets kicked out of a bar for being a loud-mouthed lout, that’s justice. If it’s a black guy, it’s racist. You are perpetuating ignorance if even one person buys into your tripe.
If you don’t want your kids to wear uniforms, then move. Don’t challenge the system with irresponsible speculation.”
Ouch. That’s gotta burn.
Leroy says again I’s don’t care if’n yous fo or ‘gainst uniforms. Leroy says don’t be throwin no race card in da mix when it ain’t gots nuttin to do with the uniform debates. Leroy says folks need to be straight-thinking when opposing sumthin. Leroy says there’s many majority white private & church schools that have unis.
Leroy says the CL peeps ain’t as kind as the Starkville peeps. Leroy says hammerswinger said this on da Ledger site:
“I agree. This woman needs to get a life. This is one of the sillier letters we have ever seen posted here. What’s her Ph.D. in, I wonder. Not common sense, I bet”.
5/11/2010 6:39:04 AM
This is a classic! Can someone in the know please explain what MS PhD intended to gain from writing this ridiculous letter to the CLARION LEDGER???????
come on now…seriously
Is the case that weak?
Boy o boy, talk about getting slammed! hahaha