July 29, 2016
By Paragon News Director Paul Joseph –
The fate of so-called “uniforms” at Elk City Public Schools could be decided Monday in a special meeting.
The school district implemented the “defined dress code,” commonly referred to as school uniforms, eight years ago – much to the consternation of some parents and students at the time. Now, after a new school superintendent has taken the helm, Rick Garrison has determined that the district’s needs have changed, according to a memo his staff has disseminated.
Garrison acknowledges that – as with the defined dress code in 2008-09, this new direction may not be met with 100% approval, either. Garrison writes, “When administrators and boards implement new policies, it is assumed not everyone will be happy with the decisions.”
Garrison writes that he has determined that times have changed and that – quote – “Elk City no longer has the same needs we did eight years ago and we would be better served by having a new dress code.”
He continues, “For me, the dress code policy is more of a leadership issue than what kids wear or don’t wear” and that” if any policy is eventually not met with some common ground and acceptance, it must be dealt with.”
The special board meeting on Monday follows an open meeting on the issue this past week in the high school auditorium where over 300 people turned out. Most of the comments publicly expressed at the meeting were in favor of doing away with “uniforms.” Comments on social media message boards since that time have been divided on the issue.
Near the end of his statement, Garrison says that in the specially-called school board meeting on Monday at 12 noon, he will be recommending that a new dress code policy be approved – implying that there will be a discontinuation of the current dress code that’s come to be known simply as “uniforms.”
This new, proposed dress code policy is available on the school website at elkcityschools.com and listed as “Student Dress Code Regulation – Draft.
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