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Beachwear No-No At Football Games, Manatee School Board Says

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By NATALIE SHEPHERD, News Channel 8

Published: October 23, 2007

BRADENTON - BRADENTON - BRADENTON — Wearing a bikini top to a football game clearly violates the district's Code of Student Conduct, the Manatee County School Board said Monday evening.

The controversy began after Jessyca Altenbach and Monica Cummings, both 17 and Manatee High School seniors, were told to leave a football game after they wore bikini tops and painted their torsos in slogans and school colors.

Students can still paint themselves with their school colors, but everyone who comes to a football game has to be wearing a shirt, a spokesperson for the district said.

Beachwear, which includes bikini tops, are not allowed at school, the board said.

This isn't the last that will be heard about this issue.

The school board is planning to clarify what the principal's duties and responsibilities are when it comes to deciding what is appropriate for students to wear.

A high school employee, acting on orders of Manatee Principal Robert Gagnon, pulled the girls out of the stands from the October 12 homecoming game and told them to cover up or leave.

The board is planning to set a date for a public hearing sometime in December.

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