A Flint-area teenager who survived leukemia and wants to donate his hair to cancer victims has been suspended from school because of his long locks.

J.T. Gaskins has missed 5 1/2 days at Madison Academy, a charter school in Burton. The school board is standing by its policy on hair, which must be "off the collar, off the ears and out of the eyes."

Will Kneer of the school's management company wants Gaskins back in class. He says combing the hair could solve the problem. The boy feels strongly about growing his hair for Locks of Love, which turns donated hair into wigs.

The 17-year-old senior had leukemia but has been cancer-free since age 7. Gaskins' mother, Christa Plante, tells The Flint Journal the school should compromise.