100 students suspended over dress code

RICHMOND, Indiana (WDTN) - As many as 100 Richmond, Ind. high school students were suspended Wednesday for dress code violations.

"They're just clothes," protested Richmond High School Junior Shonice Ford, who was suspended because her shirt top was cut too low. "I mean they should be more worried about our education than what we're wearing."

According to the new rules, students can't wear clothing with insignias or shirts below their collarbone, like a v-neck shirt.

Superintendent Allen Bourff said parents were warned last year the dress code would change and gave students a waiver on their clothing Tuesday.

"We were aware that there could be some bumps and bruises along the way in implementation," Bourff said. "We expected some, but again we have 95 percent approximately of our students who have complied and their parents are very supportive."

Ford wonders how she'll ever find any clothes that will match what the school district says is acceptable.

"It's not fair," she said. "I mean we just can't go out and buy clothes like plain stuff."

Parents like Brian Johnson believes his daughter was dressed appropriately. Johnson's daughter Jessica wore blue jeans, a white undershirt and a blue v-neck shirt.

Johnson said he didn't know his daughter got the boot out of school until she sent him a text message. "They had my daughter in suspension for hours and never even notified us as parents."