Student suspended for wearing sweater

By Mark E. Vogler
Staff Writer

March 14, 2008 06:23 am

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LAWRENCE — Honor roll student Flormarie Figueroa won't be allowed to attend classes at Lawrence High School today because she violated a school dress code by refusing to take her sweater off.

Joseph McMilleon, principal of the Business Management and Finance High School, noted "insubordination to two teachers when asked to leave the classroom due to noncompliance with the uniform policy" as the reason for the in-school suspension ordered yesterday.

Flormarie, 16, a junior, said last night she told teachers she was cold and felt a draft while walking around in the school and sitting in some of her classes.

"Two teachers told me to leave because of my sweater," Flormarie said in an interview with her mother Maria Figueroa at her side.

The mother said the suspension is the school administration's way of getting back at an outspoken mom.

"She's being targeted because of my speaking out that there's no communication (by the school administration) with the parents," said Figueroa, who planned to take a personal day from work to serve the suspension with her daughter.

"I will be shadowing her for the day — giving her support — because she did absolutely nothing wrong. The fact of the matter is there is absolutely no sweater policy because it's still being brought before the School Committee," Figueroa said.

Figueroa, who has been critical of the school administration at School Committee meetings and in letters, said she planned to attend tonight's School Committee meeting. She wrote a letter to the committee this week, complaining that parents weren't being notified of apparent policy changes in the dress code.

She said most parents believed their children could wear plain color sweaters that matched the required uniform. She points out that the original document parents received about school uniforms makes no mention of sweaters.

Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy dismissed any claim school officials are targeting the girl for her mother's outspokenness.

"Ms. Figueroa is one of 8,900 parents in the district. She has a right to her opinion. ... But the inference we're singling out her daughter because she's vocal, I completely refute that idea," Laboy said.

Laboy insists the suspension was strictly for a uniform dress code policy, one of "about 50 to 60" such suspensions that occur weekly at Lawrence High.

The school administration has been flexible and compromising while it modifies the dress code to include sweaters that match the uniform. The school is ordering ones to comply, Laboy noted.

"In the interim, we've allowed kids when it's cold to wear sweaters. ... We've compromised, but we are not going to comprise to the point where kids capriciously and unilaterally use it as an excuse" to deviate from the school uniform, he said.

With temperatures warming and the climate in the school buildings warm like yesterday, Laboy said there is no need for sweaters.

"The building was not cold and kids were asked to take off their sweaters. We battle this every day. We're trying to shape behavior here, because we believe uniforms are appropriate," Laboy said.

"We are there to uniformly and equitably enforce the uniform policy. .. There are protocols and procedures we all follow and one is respecting adult authority," he said, referring to Flormarie's refusal to take off her sweater.

"I just told them "I'm cold' and I didn't want to take it off. And I didn't want to walk around in the hallways because that's not going to do any good for me," Flormarie said.

During the first two semesters this year, Flormarie received fives A's and two B's the first semester and four A's and three B's the second term.

Her recent report card notes "Outstanding overall work. Conscientious and diligent student."

Laboy said being a good student has nothing to do with obeying school policy.

"The uniform is for everybody, and no exceptions," Laboy said.

At least one School Committee member called the girl's suspension "ridiculous."

"I hear they're having trouble with the heating system. Some rooms are warm. Some rooms are cold...I wore a sweater today in our Lady of Good Counsel School, and I was comfortable," said member James Vittorioso.

"To suspend a child for wearing a sweater doesn't seem right," he said.

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