Parents Rally For Aubrey ISD After Threats
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DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Dozens of people are rallying around their school district after a dress code controversy lead to threats.
Aubrey ISD was forced to step up security across its campuses after barring twin 11-year-old students from wearing large Air Force emblems on hoodies to class last week.
Many parents said the Aubrey school district is unfairly being portrayed as unpatriotic.
But school officials said they will allow large military logos on clothing; a statement that has enraged some parents who allege the family who complained brought negative attention and threats to their school.
"Our debate about the hoodies put kids at risk. I think that's really saddening," said the twin's father, Phil Rolen.
Officers with weapons were even positioned around Aubrey Middle School Tuesday.
"Scary. Never seen a school like this before... teachers nervous... the principal was nervous," said student Morgen Merchant.
Rolen claimed an email from the superintendent suggests he's the reason for "an increased presence of local police."
The controversy continued Tuesday night when more than 60 parents, students and some teachers organized outside the school. They said the Rolen family's public campaign is against a dress code policy they also have to adhere to and that it has inaccurately smeared the town's image.
"We want to show everybody that Aubrey ISD is patriotic. We are not anti-military," said parent Meredith Tenney.
But many parents said they're worried about the safety of their children if someone takes action against the school for its dress code policy banning large logos.
It's a policy that after decades of no changes is now temporarily modified to allow those promoting the military.
"It's just about a dress code that we've all agreed to -- so you know -- my kids have been out of dress code before and we've gotten in trouble for it," said parent Becky Merchant.
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