Looking to donate his hair to a nonprofit organization, junior Jim Stack received a “no” from principal Tonya King after having requested to grow his hair past school regulations.
“Had I approved Jim’s request, then I would have students every day asking if they could also break the dress code,” principal Tonya King stated.
Stack, whose sister lost her hair as a result of chemotherapy, wrote a letter to Leaguetown School Board requesting permission to grow his hair out for Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization, stating that it would take between a year and 18 months to grow his hair long enough to meet the minimum 10 inch donation policy.
“I hope the board approves my request,” Stack said. “Donating my hair to Locks of Love is a very special project to me. When we recieved my sister’s wig, she was so happy. I had not seen a smile on her face for a long time.”
“We have rules for a reason,” principal King says, “and we just can’t go breaking them anytime we want. The school would be in chaos then.”
In addition to Stack’s letter, the Student Council wrote a letter to the school board supporting Stack’s request, which was signed by 350 students. Attached to the letter were 150 students who were also willing their hair to make a donation.
“I can not comment on this issue right now. We will discuss it at the board meeting next week. I will say that the letter was well-written and had some good points,” Bill Valdez, president of the School Board, said.
Valdez stated that the board will vote on Stack’s request at its next board meeting next Monday night at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Central Administration Building on Fifth Street.
“I think it’s cool that Jim wants to do this,” Student Council president Gilbert Castillo commented. “Girls have long hair, and no one is distracted. Rules were made to be broken, and this is a very good reason to break one.”