TMS Uniform Petition

As a private school I would expect the School board to discuss such a monumental issue with the parents and provide all the information they receive and not unilaterally, as result of few requests affect the majority of the students. I am very concerned about the direction the board has taken.

Parents did not participate in the board meeting where this issue was discussed. We do not know what information was provided to the board, what research was conducted, and how the board came to their decision. I am signing this petition, not because I necessarily disagree with the uniform change and believe that such a change could somehow alter or disrupt the education of our students, but rather because the school failed to communicate (yet again) with the parents about the issue. Parents should have had the option to hear what information was provided and to make comments on their feelings concerning the issue. As of right now, everything is an assumption. Without the proper information we cannot, as parents, support or object to the policy change.

I do not agree for the new rule for the meadows school.

Keep the tradition meadows!!! Stand strong in our values and traditions!!! That is why our four children are here.

Parent to Bailey and Kiri Pawlowski

This is a lot of information as well on the topic. At minimum, it would be much better to postpone this decision until all families have a clear understanding of the exact changes proposed so we can all make an informed decision.

I value tradition and don't want to see any erosion of it at TMS. If this change is such a great idea, why was only one side of the issue allowed to be presented? The desire of a few shouldn't outweigh the good of the many.

May be a duplicate, but feel strongly about this issue.

I have reviewed Mr. Gregersen's correspondence that was issued on May 12, 2015, related to the new Uniform Code and Regulations for all Middle and Upper School students. I understand that the issuance of that letter, and the underlying policy change, has created some tension among parents at the school. Personally, I will not render an opinion on a subject matter until I have received all available information. It is for that reason that I am undecided as to the propriety of the new policy. I am troubled that parents were not given notice of the substance of the May 11, 2015 meeting, and that the meeting was not open to the public. It appears from the above stated correspondence that the Board received a detailed and thoughtful presentation related to the subject matter of removing gender designations from the dress code. The correspondence reflects that a presentation was made by two students in support of the policy change, that a presentation was made on what other schools have done, and that a presentation was made regarding equality and inclusivity. I would have liked to see the presentation so I too could have all of the information that the Board members possessed when they made the decision to modify the uniform policy. Accordingly, I am asking that the school hold an additional meeting where parents of Meadows students can hear the same presentation that was made to the Board. At the conclusion of the presentation the parents will at least be able to make an informed decision regarding the policy change instead of taking a side without all available information. As stated above, I do not have enough information to provide either support or objection to the policy change. My objection is to the process that was utilized in making the policy change.

I do not have a problem making some changes to the uniforms at the Meadows. I do have a problem making such a profound change, as gender neutrality would, without listening to the Meadows family.

I was extremely upset about this policy change. Let's keep the Meadows the traditional, special school it has always been!

Keep the,skirts on the little girls please.

My husband and I are considering where to send our three young children to school. We understand that The Meadows offers the best educational experience in Las Vegas. We will continue to watch this situation closely to see if this is an institution where parental concerns are respected and heeded, and where tradition and standards are upheld. There seems to be nothing else like The Meadows in town, and we hope the school continues to be able to maintain its traditions of excellence against the changing fads and whims of the times. I received my Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Yale University. I have studied evolutionary biology, anatomy, physiology, zoology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, and many other subjects. There is no genetic or biological basis for "gender neutrality." It seems to be a current whim that has no basis in evolutionary biology. Perhaps this fad will pass quickly. If so, then it would be a travesty for The Meadows to give up its history and tradition based on a passing fancy.

We should tablet this for next year.

As a parent, I would like to see more research and discussion among the School-wide community regarding this issue. I will certainly honor and respect whatever the ultimate decision is, however, feel that such a drastic change needs more voice.

I am grateful for and appreciate the hard work and efforts of Mr. Gregersen and the Board. I have entrusted them to keep the amazing reputation of the Meadows School strong! Yet with this responsibility, I do hope that they will dutifully consider and weigh the opinions of the entire TMS community when enacting such policy decisions. Given that this dress code policy change impacts a long-standing tradition associated with the Meadows School, and that a large proportion of the school community are opposed to this change, it's reasonable to request an open forum and conversation with interested stakeholders before the Board adopts this new policy.

I am signing this petition even though I support the adoption of our school's uniform policy as modified. I am doing so because I believe those who are opposed to the gender-neutral uniform policy or have serious concerns about it, should be afforded the opportunity to voice those concerns and ascertain that the necessary research has been conducted and the requisite consideration has been given to the consequences of such a change. After all, the determination of that which is in the best interest of our school and its students and the process undertaken to arrive at such significant decisions are of paramount importance to us all. Undoubtedly, this issue is one on which reasonable minds will inevitably differ, even vehemently. Any single policy will leave some dissatisfied and even alienated. While TMS must ultimately be run by the rule of its Board of Trustees, the protestations of no segment of our parent body should be ignored. The request for a platform for candid discussion is quite justified no matter where one stands on this issue, given the apparent polarizing charge of the change contemplated and the trust in the decision making process that, unfortunately, seems to now be in question.

The whole point of the uniform is to emphasize education and give the same platform form and opportunity to every child without distractions of style and type of clothes being worn. This change will be COUNTERPRODUCTIVE and CREATE DISTRACTIONS that the uniforms were supposed to alleviate in the first place. Allowing customization of the uniform to fit the students individuality is not in the best interests of the whole student body and will create a blur in the focus of the mission at hand. Please let's focus on great education, continued pursuit of perfection and let the students express their individuality and style on their own time before or after school! Thank you

Everyone understood the dress code policy before becoming a member of The Meadoos family. Why accept it and then try to change it now. If you don't think TMS is non-discriminatory enough, then go somewhere else instead of trying to change a tradition that has been in place for years.

The high standards and excellence is what we are proud of being a Meadows parent. The schools academic success speaks for itself. It was our choice 4-years ago to honor and respect the Meadows rules and traditions. If we did not like or accept these policies, we could have declined and went to another school. I strongly do not agree with the sudden changes and feel that this is not the "vision" of what this school was founded on.