by Kelsey Penrose
During the Carson City School Board meeting of trustees held Tuesday night, a public commenter brought forth an issue that had occurred earlier this week at Eagle Valley Middle School.
Bev Singleton has worked with the school district for over 40 years, and also has four grandchildren within the district. During public comment, she said she is only one of many parents and grandparents that has an issue with the dress code at the middle schools.
Specifically, Singleton said, earlier this week an EVMS student was sent home while wearing a skirt. The issue? This student did not have leggings on under the skirt — despite the fact that the skirt was ankle length.
The issue seems too stem from a contradiction within the dress code itself. According to EVMS’s dress code, All skirts sand shorts must be knee length or have leggings underneath.
However, only a few lines down, it then states that Non-transparent leggings are required under all skirts and dresses. Leggings must be below the knee.
“A young lady who was wearing a skirt that was maxi length, almost to her ankle length, was sent home because she was not wearing leggings,” Singleton said. “Which would have been shorter than her dress!”
Singleton asked whether it was more important for girls — as girls are the only ones affected by this dress code — are wearing leggings, or is it more important that they are kept in school to learn.
“We need to decide.”
Singleton said that other districts have very different policies when it comes to leggings and skirts, including at the middle school level.
At Douglas County, for example, clothing must cover the body from “above the chest/breasts to below the buttocks, including when moving, sitting, squatting or bending over, and should cover all undergarments.”
Washoe County uses the same language, though it adds that shorts, skirts, skirts and dresses must be an appropriate length, extending to the student’s mid-thigh. The only mention of leggings states that they are acceptable to be worn as pants, something EVMS specifically bans as well.
Washoe County also does not send students home for any reason having to do with dress code, though they are required to change clothing.
Lyon County similarly states that “clothing that exposes the abdomen, toros, back, chest, breasts, buttocks, private parts, and/or undergarments will not be allowed, including revealing or transparent clothing.”
When it comes to district-level regulations, policy states that administration should only resort to disciplinary action when “positive measures” fail to ensure compliance, and that prior to initiating any disciplinary action against a student, a conference will be held with the student to give them the opportunity to change their clothing.
Singleton asked the board to consider changing the dress code — especially considering the fact that the dress code is required from students, but not staff members.
In fact, school policy for staff is far more lenient in some cases. For example, female staff members are discouraged from wearing skirts, shorts and dresses more than four inches above the knee — higher than any school policy for students in the district.
Three years ago, student-led protests at Carson High School regarding dress code issues led to a number of meetings held between administration and students where students pled their case, and asked for a number of changes to be made.
At the time of publication, the district has not responded to a request for information on the EVMS situation and dress code issue. We will update with new information when available.
