Behavior/Discipline, Vision: 2020

Butler Timeline of Events

In an effort to focus on transparency and accountability, and separate facts from rumors, I have created this timeline of events as it pertains to the Butler High School Dress Code hair policy, as well as responses from district administrators. Any corrections/clarifications can be sent to moderator@dearjcps.com.

It started here, on Wednesday, July 27:

Actual dress code:butler dress code

Thursday afternoon:

“We will provide guidance to our schools to ensure their policies are not obtrusive, do not conflict with board policy and most importantly do not infringe on the many cultures embraced across our school district,” Hargens said in a statement.

On Friday, July 29:

SBDM met, and in a meeting that lasted less than 4 minutes, voted to suspend the policies that related to hair. Butler HS suspends controversial hair policy – Wave3

On Monday, August 1, Hargens published this op-ed (emphasis is mine).

There has been much confusion about the long-standing policy, which was updated by the Butler School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) council last year to spell out specific hairstyles for males that were prohibited, and I’m truly sorry that confusion has created both unnecessary hurt and embarrassment for some students.

I commend Principal William Allen and the Butler SBDM council for moving immediately to suspend the portion of the dress code that referenced hair. This allows the Butler community to focus on starting the school year off strong, and to have that broader discussion with students, parents and staff.  Principal Allen is a thoughtful, responsible and collaborative leader, inclusive of all voices, and he has said he will call a meeting in the coming days for that opportunity.

In this case, Mr. Allen modeled the best and most appropriate way to deal with questions regarding policy: by taking them directly to school leaders first. He demonstrated, as he has during his entire career with JCPS, how effective leaders address difficult situations.

A Butler student who attended Friday’s meeting aptly summed up the situation:  “Instead of making assumptions, you all should have asked.”  As adults and leaders, we can learn a great deal from the voices of our students.

On Wednesday, August 3

Good afternoon, Mrs. Adelman!  The Butler minutes you requested are now up on the website at https://sppublic.jefferson.kyschools.us/sbdm/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/sbdm/Shared%20Documents/045SBDM_June916.pdf&action=default.  Please let me know if you need anything else and have a great evening!

Shawna L. Stenton, Ph.D

SBDM Minutes from June 9, 2016 reflect change made to handbook.

sbdm attendeessbdm minutes

 

 

 

 

Butler SBDM approves new hair policy – Wave3

 

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