In order to determine whether Junior Jim Stacks may grow his hair out to donate to charity, the school board will vote next Monday at 7 pm to overturn or agree with Principal Tonya King’s decision.
“I hope the school board will vote in favor of my request,” Stack said, “I was very disappointed when Principal King turned down my request.”
Stack hopes to donate to Locks of Love, a non profit organization that provides wigs made from real human hair to those who cannot afford it. All male student’s hair must not exceed collar length, the dress code states. Stack must have his hair at at least ten inches to be able to donate.
“I have known the Stack family for 20 years,” School Board President Bill Valdez said. “I even attend church with them.”
Despite knowing the Stack family for nearly two decades, Valdez refuses to release his opinion and any information relating to the meeting discussing the issue and the dress code next Monday.
“We can’t just break school rules when we want,” ” King said, “I would have students asking me every day if they could break the dress code.”
Even though King denied Stack’s request, she still knows about his younger sister and her battle with cancer. King said that she would be willing to organize a fundraiser for Locks of Love.
“When we received my sister’s wig, she was so happy. I had not seen a smile on her face for a long time,” Stack said.
Stack’s motivation to provide to Locks of Love comes from his sister’s recent battle with cancer, and her happiness when she received her hair. Stack wants to make another kid battling cancer just as happy.
“We desperately need human hair, a minimum of ten inches per donation,” Locks of Love President Gisel Roco said.
Each month, Locks of Love receives about 200 requests for wigs, and has to turn down about 150 because of a lack of hair to give. Student Council President said. The student council signed a letter stating that 150 students were willing to donate to Locks of Love.
“When the wig arrived, she came alive again,” Stack’s mother, Holly Stack said. “I think her change in attitude helped her get well.”