JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2013.1.319/js/kendo.all.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2012.3.1315/styles/kendo.common.min.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2012.3.1315/styles/kendo.default.min.css">
<select id="size">
    <option value="1">S - 6 3/4"</option>
    <option value="2">M - 7 1/4"</option>
    <option value="3">L - 7 1/8"</option>
    <option value="4">XL - 7 5/8"</option>
</select>

JavaScript

var $select = $('#size');

$( "li" ).first().remove();

console.log($select.val());
var ddl = $('#size').kendoDropDownList({
    optionLabel: {
        text: "-- Select An Option --",
        value: 0
    }
}).data("kendoDropDownList");

console.log($select.val());
console.log(ddl.value());