School officials took no action Tuesday night on the proposed uniform policy for students of the Starkville School District.
The board conducted a short business meeting after spending two hours hearing five annual administrator reports. All board members were present for the meeting.
The board was not asked to take any action on the proposed uniform policy as the item was on the agenda as a first reading. It was on the Feb. 2 agenda as a first reading, but the board voted them to table the matter until they could hear from the public on the subject. The board held a public forum on the issue of school uniforms Feb. 11.
Keith Coble asked a follow-up question raised at the forum. He asked Superintendent Judy Couey what she learned other school districts with uniform policy have spent on buying uniforms for those who couldn”t buy their own.
Couey said she contacted Oktibbeha County, West Lowndes, West Point and Columbus schools for data.
“How much district money was spent on uniforms? Zero,” Couey said.
Coble followed up by asking if that meant no one requested a uniform of the district or whether a group took care of these needs. Couey said she did not have that information, but said that some organizations, such as Junior Auxiliary, have been involved in some school districts providing uniforms for those in need.
Another question addressed a concern raised last week that the school district does not have enough textbooks, but Couey said money remains in the textbook fund.
After the questions, board president Walter Taylor said as this was just a first reading of the policy, it will be voted on at a subsequent meeting.
The board handled mostly routine matters of other business before adjourning into closed session for the transaction of business and discussion regarding the prospective purchase, sale or leasing of lands, and to discuss personnel matters. They will meet again at 6 p.m. March 2 in the Greensboro Center.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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