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MONROE — While Monroe Local Schools continues to defend its policy prohibiting cheerleaders from wearing uniforms in class during school hours, other districts have skirted the issue.

Last week, Monroe cheerleaders were told that they would not be able to wear their uniforms to school because the cheerleaders' skirts violate the district's dress code. The policy was clarified this year to require that the bottoms of shorts and skirts be no shorter than three inches above the knee.

Mad River Local Schools spokesperson Jenny Birtle said her district already prohibited cheerleaders from wearing uniforms to class.

"They have sweatsuits and cheerleader sweatshirts they can wear with their jeans, and if we have a pep rally or something they can go and change," she said.

Centerville cheerleaders can wear their uniforms to school on game day or spirit or pep days, said Karen Myers, vice president of the Centerville school board. But there's been no reason to have a rule about skirt length: "I think they're very tasteful. They're very traditional."

Bellbrook High School Principal Chris Baker said his cheerleaders dress "modestly."

"As we live in the wonderful country that we live in, many people have different interpretations of what fits within their community," Baker said. "I don't know Monroe's circumstances."

Dave Bauer, Monroe's high school athletic director, held a 20-minute "informational" meeting with the cheerleaders and their parents on Wednesday, , to review – and support – the dress code.

At Oakwood High School in order to determine if a skirt is too short, a school staff member has the person wearing the skirt place their arms straight down their sides and if the skirt is shorter than the person's fingertips, then it is too short.

"We expect them to dress modestly, but at the same time we recognize they are wearing cheerleading outfits," said Oakwood High School Principal Joe Boyle said.

Dayton schools' dress code does not get into the specifics of skirt length but more generally states any dress that "clearly constitutes a threat to the health and safety of students or disrupts the educational process will be prohibited."

Spokeswoman Jill Moberley said cheerleaders sometimes wear uniforms to school, but more commonly wear team sweat suits on game days: "The policy leaves a lot to the interpretation of principal and they do watch things. Students are sent home when dress is not appropriate."