School District appeals Winnie-the-Pooh dress code case

The Napa Valley Register reports:

Redwood Middle School’s controversial dress code is heading to the California Court of Appeal, even before there is a final ruling in the legal challenge to the code brought by several Redwood parents and students.

The Napa Valley Unified School District has decided to appeal Napa County Superior Court Judge Ray Guadagni’s preliminary injunction, temporarily suspending the dress code at the north Napa middle school.

Guadagni held earlier this month that the parents and students had a good chance of winning on their claim that the code violates free speech rights of students. The decision to appeal could net the school district the legal ammunition it needs to keep the dress code intact while the litigation continues. If the district loses, however, it could further unravel the school’s case.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit on behalf of local families in March, charging the Redwood Middle School dress code violated the U.S. and state constitutions, as well as the state education code. The dress code bars students from wearing denim, stripes, corporate and other logos, and clothing of specific colors. One student was found in violation of the code for wearing socks embroidered with the Winnie-the-Pooh character Tigger.