3216 - DRESS CODE

Southern Local School District

Administrative Guidelines

3216 - DRESS CODE

The Board of Education believes that the appearance and dress of professional staff members is an important component of the educational program of this School District. Staff members are professional educators whose attitudes about their professional responsibilities and the importance of education in the lives of their students are reflected in their dress and appearance. Accordingly, in order to create an atmosphere of respect for staff and an environment conducive to discipline and learning, the Board establishes the following rules for the dress of all professional staff members in the performance of their professional duties:

	A.	Female professional staff members may wear dresses, skirt or pant suits or skirts or pants with blouses or sweaters.
	B.	Male professional staff members may wear suits or slacks with or without jackets.
	C.	The clothing and appearance of all professional staff members shall be clean and neat.
	D.	No clothing may be worn that constitutes a danger to health or safety to the wearer or to others, and no clothing may be worn that interferes with the instructional program.
	E.	A professional staff member may request a waiver of this dress code for the performance of particular duties; such waivers may be granted by the principal.
	F.	The principal or Superintendent as appropriate, shall determine whether a violation of this dress code has occurred and shall discuss the violation with the staff member concerned. Where a single violation so warrants or violations recur, the principal and/or Superintendent may enter a reprimand in the staff member's file and may recommend more stringent disciplinary measures.
	G.	A staff member may appeal the denial of a waiver of this dress code or the entry of a reprimand to the principal. The determination of the Superintendent may be appealed to the Board of Education.

It shall be the policy of the Board to review this professional staff dress code at intervals of not less than five (5) years and to invite the comments of appropriate staff members in that review.