MIDLOTHIAN – It was back in July 2020 that Midlothian ISD’s dress code began drawing attention.
The ISD board had adopted a gender-neutral dress code recommended by a diversity council to remove separate guidelines for boys and girls.
That issue came up again in July after a heated board meeting where trustees voted 3–2 to retain the gender-neutral policy.
Conservative trustee Ed Harrison attempted to add explicit language banning boys or male staff from wearing dresses, but the motion failed.
Harrison, father of state Rep. Brian Harrison. questioned if the current policy prevented “a boy from wearing a dress to school.”
He was told by the Student Services Administrator Krista Tipton the dress code does not prohibit biological males from wearing dresses.
The policy only addresses dress and skirt length but does not point out that it must be a male or female student wearing it.
During the discussion board Secretary John Knight questioned the importance of the discussion, “What I would say is, I’m on those campuses quite often. Between visiting my own kids, mentoring others’ kids, and attending sporting events, I don’t see offensive dress.”
Following his comments, Knight made a motion to approve the policy.
In addition to Knight’s yes vote, Gary Vineyard, and Ryan Timm also voted in favor.
Harrison and Jessica Ward voted against, and trustee Brandi Vess abstained.
“The current policy puts teachers and administrators at risk by unfairly shifting the burden to them.
We must have standards, and boys should not be allowed to wear dresses at school.
Public schools are for education, not liberal indoctrination.” said Harrison.
The original 2020 recommendation successfully passed the school board in a 6–1 vote.
This historical tie to a Diversity Council—or what critics later called a “DEI Council”— became the primary focal point of the political push-back six years later and at the recent ISD board meeting.
“Dress code does not prohibit biological males from wearing dresses.”