PONCHATOULA - Ponchatoula High School students claim hundreds of students were suspended this week over uniform violations.

School officials did not confirm that information this morning, but said 250 PHS students have received warnings about uniform infractions.

Enforcement started this week. PHS officials issued 250 warnings on Monday, according to school system spokesperson Cindy Benitez. The warnings dwindled to 40 this morning.

“The school is basically enforcing the board's uniform policy,” Benitez said. She added that the central office has had no phone calls or complaints this week.

E-mails flooded the Daily Star office Wednesday night alleging PHS had suspended between 300 and 400 students.

“I wouldn't think it would be that many. But I did hear a bunch of kids were warned Monday and came back Tuesday with the same clothes,” school board member Rose Dominguez said.

The primary problem is labels, she said.

Student uniforms are not supposed to display any labels at all.

Elyssa Schexsnayder, a junior at PHS, said she was suspended and consequently kicked off the cheerleading squad for the rest of the school

year.

Her violation was a logo on her polo shirt that was the same color as the shirt, she said.

“This, we feel is excessive and we believe the school's priorities are skewed. The school should be more concerned with our educational needs than trivial clothing matters,” Schexsnayder stated in her email.

Classrooms are kept cold, yet “they always find a problem with our school jackets,” said student Brett Kling. “I tell you one jacket acceptable, Ponchatoula High School jackets. Is there a better way to raise money?”

Ponchatoula resident Christian Bunn said classroom time could be better spent.

“They are taking time out of class where kids could be learning to check pants. And the students getting suspended for something like that are

missing out on classes that they really need to succeed in life,” Bunn

stated in an email.

“I don't think I have had one hour at school so far where my learning

hasn't been interrupted by control-crazed principals checking uniforms,”

wrote PHS sophomore Leanne Keen. “I mean come on, is it really necessary

to spend 35 min. of our first hour checking to see if there is a one inch

tan bird on our tan colored pants?”