JCSB votes against school uniforms for 2025-26 school year

By: Shelia Mader

After considerable discussion and reflection, the Jackson County School Board voted unanimously at their July meeting not to reinstate a mandatory school uniform policy for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. The motion, introduced by Board Member Rex Torbett and seconded by Board Member Chephus Granberry, passed 5-0.

While the vote was straightforward, the conversation around it was anything but. Granberry voiced concerns about the return to a more relaxed dress code, pointing out that many parents had expressed frustration about the removal of uniforms, especially after the effort it took to establish the policy years ago.

"A lot of the parents are now saying they’ve got to go back to buying regular clothes,” Granberry said. “I just want us to be prepared for the backlash when these kids start wearing stuff that we're going to have issues with. From school to school, different schools are doing different things.”

Superintendent Hunter Nolen acknowledged the concern but emphasized that the change was largely driven by feedback from school-based educators, especially in light of challenges brought on by Hurricane Michael and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our number one goal is student attendance,” Nolen said. “We want them in school. From the hurricane to COVID, just getting them back into an inviting environment and getting grades up is our focus. We’re going to try it, and if it goes south, then we’ll back up and punt.”

Board Member Chris Johnson, who was on the board when the uniform policy was first enacted, noted that implementing the dress code was controversial from the beginning. “I don't think we'll ever go back to a dress code,” Johnson said. “It's not because I'm against it. It’s because we've been down that road, and I got beat up the first time. I'm not going to get beat up again.”

However, Johnson emphasized the importance of appropriate attire, even without a formal dress code, and said the current guidelines are actually clearer than they were before. He stressed that the responsibility now lies with school administrators to ensure students dress appropriately and that rules are applied consistently.

Torbett echoed the call for consistency. “The key is consistency from school to school,” he said. “Don’t let one school do what they want and another something different. We have to be consistent throughout the district.”

Granberry agreed, noting that consistency would be difficult to maintain without clear directives from the district level.

Despite some nostalgia for the simplicity of uniforms, khakis, and polos that made mornings easier for both students and parents, board members ultimately agreed to move forward with the relaxed policy. Nolen assured the board that his office and school administrators will monitor the situation closely and bring the issue back to the board if necessary.

The 5-0 vote signals a shift in approach, with more autonomy returning to individual school sites and principals as they manage student attire under broader district guidelines.