By Brittany Anderson

KYLE — Students at Simon Middle School will no longer be required to wear uniforms, following a change that will take effect during the 2022-2023 school year. 

Simon Middle School has had uniforms since the school first opened in 2009. Hays CISD chief communications officer Tim Savoy said that while there are some benefits to uniforms, they also present some challenges for families, such as making sure they have the proper uniform and enough of them to last between laundry cycles. 

In a campus-wide statement, Simon principal Laura Briones said that as the school has continued to grow and evolve over the last 13 years, she has received feedback on uniforms, and that students have also been vocal and working with administration to help with planning efforts as they move forward with this change. 

Despite the absence of a uniform, a standardized student dress code policy that is in accordance with the Hays CISD dress code policy will still be maintained and enforced. 

Per the school’s dress code, the following clothing items are not permitted: 

• Tops: tank tops, muscle shirts and spaghetti straps with less than three-inches in width; midriff and low-cut tops

• Bottoms: shorts, skirts and dresses shorter than mid-thigh or more than five-inches above the knee; pants, shorts or skirts that have any fraying, rips, tears or holes; tights, yoga pants or leggings; wind shorts or spandex running shorts; sagging of any kind 

• Outer clothing which resembles pajamas or under garments 

• Shoes: slippers (slides), flip flops, Heelys, cleats and taps (all footwear must have a back)

• Bandanas, hats or the hood on hooded sweatshirts

• Any item (clothes, jewelry or shoes) that could be used as a weapon (such as steel-toed shoes)

Other items in the dress code that are not permitted include: 

• Sunglasses or metal chains 

• Skateboards, toys of any kind, towels, blankets or stuffed animals

• Curlers, flat irons, picks or other hair equipment (other than combs or brushes)

• Tattoos (actual or temporary) or body piercings, with the exception of the ears/nose (all piercings must be studs or rings) 

• Any item (clothing, binders/folders, device covers, backpacks or lockers) must not portray, advertise or suggest obscenity, profanity, violence, sex, racism, tobacco, alcohol, drugs or gang activity 

No gang-related attire will be permitted. For enforcement purposes, gang-related attire may be identified by specific colors (no more than two articles of clothing of the same color) or the manner in which clothing is worn. Administration will work with the campus school resource officer to identify gang-related attire and communicate this to students and parents. 

Jackets, blouses or tops may not be worn to cover up dress code violations. If the principal or principal designee determines that a student’s grooming or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school. If not corrected, they will be assigned to in-school suspension for the remainder of the day until the problem is corrected or a parent or designee brings an acceptable change of clothing. Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. 

Students are expected to be in dress code until they leave campus at the end of the school day.