FILE:  GAMB

EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE

It is of paramount importance that the employees of the Monroe City School Board set good examples for students in conduct, manners, dress, and grooming.  All personnel should recognize that they are role models for the students, and they are being observed by the students, parents, and community at all times.  To have their respect, employees must dress and conduct themselves in a professional manner.  Employee actions and demeanor will be reflected in the conduct of the students.  Therefore, this policy is applicable to all school system personnel, including substitutes and volunteers.

DRESS AND PERSONAL GROOMING

Employees are expected to be guided in their grooming habits by what is most generally accepted in the business and professional world.  Employee dress and grooming shall not detract from the learning/educational environment of students’ participation in classes, school programs or other school-related activities.  Extremes in style and fit in employee dress and extremes in style of grooming shall not be permitted. Building administrators and principals shall be authorized to use their discretion in determining extremes in styles of dress and grooming and what is appropriate and suitable for Monroe City School Board employees.  No employees shall wear, possess, use, distribute, display, or sell any clothing, jewelry, emblem, blade, symbols, sign, or other things which are affiliated with drugs, alcohol, violence, or gang-related activities.  Policies regarding dress and grooming stress the importance of reducing distractions that inhibit learning and are addressed in an attempt to enhance the learning environment.

This policy is not intended to usurp employees’ rights to dress as they please; however, discretion and common sense call for avoidance of any extreme dress that would interfere with the normal educational process.  Principals shall be expected to counsel employees or other personnel assigned to their school on appearance and conduct. 

EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE

1. Dress that could be described as sportswear is not considered acceptable wear for administrators/supervisors, teachers, instructional staff and/or office staff unless there is an appropriate activity that warrants that particular dress (i.e., spirit day, field day, field trips, etc.)
    

2. Physical education teachers may be allowed to wear coaching shorts or warm-ups and tennis shoes during instructional time; otherwise, they are expected to wear skirts or pants.
    

3. Due to the nature of their jobs and for safety purposes, industrial arts teachers, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, maintenance staff, and bus operators may wear appropriate work clothes.
    

4. Female employees must adhere to the following:

1. • Necklines that reveal cleavage, see-through blouses or shirts, tank tops, and/or halters shall not be acceptable.
      

   • Shirts or blouses that expose the midriff shall not be acceptable.
      

   • T-shirts, jogging suits, or sweat suits shall not be acceptable except for designated activities.  (i.e., spirit days, field days, field trips, etc., as designated by the principal)
      

   • Tennis shoes shall not be allowed except when worn for medical reasons with written documentation.

5. Male employees must adhere to the following:

1. • Beards are permissible if neatly groomed.
      

   • Jogging suits shall not be allowed.
      

   • Jewelry should not be worn in pierced body parts.
      

   • Tennis shoes shall not be allowed except when worn for medical reasons with written documentation from a physician.

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:81

Monroe City School Board