Clark continues to speak out on school uniforms

By Leslie N. Dees

School uniforms were at the forefront of Attala County School Board member Mack Willie Clark’s agenda for the school board meeting Monday night. With the exception of fellow board member Willie Perteet, no one else wanted to take up the uniform issue again.

At their February meeting, the board voted against school uniforms 3-2. School board president Linda Massey and members Mike Johnson and Rusty Dees voted against and Clark and Perteet for school uniforms.

When he tried to add himself to the agenda and was defeated, Clark said he didn’t feel like any board member could deny him that.

Massey cited that to be placed on the agenda, a board member must call the Central Office by Thursday at noon and also contact the board president. It is also up to the discretion of the superintendent and board president whether the item is placed on the agenda. Massey said Clark didn’t contact her.

“You are denying my district from being represented in this meeting,” Clark said. “I want to be heard. I should be able to speak about why we should have uniforms.”

Clark, who represents McAdams and Long Creek Schools, said last year it was brought to us by the parents in the community.

He also cited that the majority of ACS students were black and their parents were for the uniforms.

Superintendent Larry Stevens said the majority of the surveys on uniforms sent to McAdams parents weren’t returned.

Stevens said he really didn’t know how important it was to them.

Massey asked Clark if he would like to speak during the superintendent's report portion of the agenda.

And Clark did.

Clark apologized to the board for getting off on the wrong foot and that he didn’t want to change anyone’s mind of the uniform issue but to share information he had gathered from other schools.

“I want you to know that there are already uniforms in schools,” he said of the uniforms worn by band and sports teams.

Clark said they represent teamwork, unity and pride.

“It would be a beautiful thing to see your children in their school colors,” Clark said.

Clark said he talked to area schools that wear uniforms like Carthage, Durant, Louisville and others.

They all had positive things to say about wearing uniforms, he said.

Some schools are nothing more than a fashion show, Clark said.

“Every child wearing a uniform has to maintain a level of learning,” he said.

Massey said that uniforms aren’t going to make students smarter. She said Kosciusko City Schools have reached Level 5 status without wearing uniforms to school.

The board heard information on better managing the districts timber from the Mississippi Forestry Commission and a representative from the Secretary of State’s office.

The board approved the following:

– Consent agenda including claims, activity and club accounts, travel and bus easements for Eula Jones and Don Martin.

–Holidays for April 3 and April 13, since the district has not used the built in weather days.

–Pay Ethel High School Softball Coach Chris Terry $100 for having a winning season in slow-pitch softball.

– Removed items from fixed assets and advertise the sale of a mower from EHS.

– Donation of three computers from the Department of the Interior to EHS.

– Change the lease on 16th section land over to Shay and Erin McCarty.

–Upcoming school year calender

–Field trips

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