NATCHEZ — A Natchez High School student was sent home for wearing the wrong color khaki pants recently.

While he was able to go back to school later that day, his mother, Tiffany Carter, addressed the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees Tuesday because the uniform policy does not specify the khaki pants have to be a specific shade.

“Should children be punished for wearing different color khakis when it is not specified in the policy?” Carter said. “Does the color of the khaki pants have any impact on the learning outcomes of our kids?”

Carter said she had spoken to Interim Superintendent Fred Butcher at length about it this past Monday, and she said he even offered to buy some pants for her son. But she declined the offer.

“I already bought him khaki uniforms as the dress code asks for,” Carter said. “He has worn the same pants for at least the last three years. We’ve never had an issue with it.”

Butcher said when he was hired one thing the board had mentioned as a focus was to improve adherence to the uniform policy, particularly at the high school. Butcher said he was informed it looks bad because children were wearing all different colors of khakis.

Carter’s son was able to get away with wearing the wrong color khaki uniform because the policy was not strictly enforced, Butcher said. He also drafted a new policy for the board to review before voting on next month. The new policy spells out only light khaki or sand color pants can be worn. Navy is also an option.

Butcher said when the policy was drafted 15 to 20 years ago, khaki meant light brown. Now, with the latest fashions, there are many different shades of brown sold as khaki, he said.

Of the more than 650 students at Natchez High School, Butcher said this potential policy change impacts approximately 35 students.

The board will vote on the policy change, which just clearly identifies the color of khaki pants students are to wear, at the next regularly scheduled board meeting at 4 p.m. Sept. 20.

Trustee Phillip West said he didn’t have a problem with this tightening the policy as long as the district offered assistance to children who had trouble meeting the potential requirements.

“There are enough kids dropping out of school without stuff like this to worry about,” he said. “We should not punish our kids for this. It’s more important for them to be in school than being out because they unknowingly are breaking the rules.”

Butcher said he has offered to buy pants for some of the children impacted, and he would also reach out to churches to help purchase pants for children in need.

“I understand some parents can’t go back and afford new uniforms once they are already bought,” he said. “We will do everything we can to be lenient to our parents.”