| School board offered final vote on dress code proposal Thursday | | Posted: Friday, June 4, 2010 12:34 pm
| The Weakley County School Board will be asked to cast the final vote that would re-write the standard dress code policy for the county school system.
Under the proposal offered by Weakley County Director of Schools Randy Frazier earlier this year, middle and high school students would be required to come to school in a more “uniform” style of dress.
The original proposal posed by Frazier was tweaked after several town hall meetings with parents, faculty and students across the county shared opinions regarding the standard dress code policy.
The idea of only allowing a few colors for shirt choices was eliminated from the original proposal and jeans were brought back into the dress code proposal.
The revamped dress code that would only apply to middle and high school students during the 2010-11 school year, received its first unanimous vote of approval by the Weakley County School Board during last month’s meeting.
The proposal is on the table again for a final vote when the school board meets again at 5 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Weakley County Department of Education in Dresden.
If adopted after tonight’s meeting, middle and high school students would be required to follow the revised dress code policy.
The policy is as follows:
Weakley County Schools
Standardized Dress Policy
2010-2011
Middle and High School
As stated earlier in the handbook, the mission of Weakley County Schools is “… to provide an education environment that will encourage students to achieve their full potential as they prepare for unique roles as contributing members of our complex and changing society.”
It is with this important mission in mind that the following improvements shall be adopted to prepare our students, in the least disruptive setting possible, to take their place in the ever-changing, ever-competitive workplace.
• Shirts: Shall be in any solid color, with a collar and sleeves (a polo-type shirt is an example, but not the only alternative). Shirts shall be designed to button up to the neck.
The top button is the only button which may remain unfastened. Turtle-neck or mock turtle-neck shirts may not be worn alone but may be worn as an undergarment.
* Students shall wear shirts tucked in at all times. The color of the shirt worn will contrast with the color of the pants worn on any given day.
* Shirts shall be sized to fit, neither skintight, nor oversized.
* Shirts may have a small design or logo provided it is no larger than a 3”x 2” business card (The logo of Weakley County Schools is exempt from this size requirement).
* Shirts shall be in good condition, free of tears and holes.
• Pants:
Pants shall be sized to fit, neither skintight, oversized, sagging, nor dragging the ground or floor.
* Pants shall have no embroidery, sequins, beads, appliques, patches or other decorations.
* Pants shall be in good condition, free of tears and holes.
* Pants shall be a solid color. Khaki, black, brown, blue denim, olive, stone or navy are colors which will be accepted at schools throughout the county.
The color of the pants worn will contrast with the color of the shirt worn on any given day. Cargo pants are not considered acceptable attire.
* Shorts, which touch the top of the knee when standing, and are one of the solid colors listed previously (Khaki, black, brown, blue denim, olive, stone or navy) will be accepted at schools throughout the county. Cargo shorts are not considered acceptable attire.
• Capris pants will be accepted in the approved colors.
• Sweatpants, pajama pants, wind pants or other leisure/sports attire are to be reserved for after school hours events/team travel.
• Belts are to be worn on pants which have loops. For safety reasons, belt buckles are to be no larger than a credit card. Belts are to be either black or brown, and solid in color.
• Skirts and Jumpers
Skirts shall be solid in color (Khaki, black, brown, blue denim, olive , stone or navy). Acceptable hemlines will touch the top of the knee or longer when standing.
• Outer garments
Solid colored sweaters may be worn, provided they are free of writing, symbols embroidery, sequins, beads, appliques, patches or other decorations. Sweaters which rest at the hip are acceptable.
* A sweater is considered cotton, cotton/poly blend or of fleece style. A sweater may be of any solid color, may be short or long sleeved, may have a full or inch” zipper, it may NOT have a hood, and may be a vest style.
* If a sweater is worn, an approved style shirt or turtleneck/mock turtleneck must be worn underneath.
* School spirit wear will be allowed to and from each campus, and to school events. Students will be expected to store their outer garments in their lockers daily.
Other spirit wear (sweat shirts, T-shirts or other team items) will be allowed on occasion as determined by the school administrator or designee. For safety reasons, hoodies are not considered acceptable attire.
* Due to varying classroom temperatures, heavy jackets/raincoats/coats may be carried by students throughout the instructional hours of the day. All jackets will be consistent with school/team or otherwise approved solid colors previously mentioned. All jackets will fall no longer than at the hip.
• Shoes
For safety reasons, shoes will be laced, tied, strapped or hooked if intended. Sandals, tennis shoes, loafers and boots will be accepted.
House shoes will not be permitted. Flip flops are not considered appropriate attire.
* For safety reasons, heel height will be limited to 1”.
* Socks in the approved colors, worn with shoes, will be solid in color and matching.
• Headwear/Jewelry/Accessories, Etc.
* Hats, toboggans, bandannas, scarves, sweatbands, stocking caps, hair rollers or combs will not be considered acceptable in the school building.
* Ear piercing, a maximum of two per ear, is the only form of acceptable displayed piercing.
• Religious Exemptions
A religious exemption may be based upon the religion of the parent/guardian or student, but the custodial parent/guardian must apply for the exemption in writing in any case.
Application shall be made to the school to which the student attends. A response to the exemption request may be expected within one week.
If the request is denied, a written explanation will be provided by the school principal.
* An appeal to the principal’s decision may be made to the Director of Schools office within two (2) days.
The office of Director of Schools will arrange a meeting with the custodial parent(s)/guardian within five (5) school days of the receipt of the request for appeal.
If this appeal is denied, a written explanation will be provided in writing.
• Transfer Students
Students transferring into the Weakley County Schools system will be allowed up to two (2) weeks to acclimate to the standardized dress code policy as set forth above.
As a part of a local mission, the youth of Ralston Baptist Church will hold a yard sale this Saturday beginning at 6 a.m. at 316 Main St. in Martin.
No item will bear a price tag. In exchange for the yard sale items, the children will accept school supplies, polo shirts and Wal-Mart gift cards.
The proceeds will go toward the first-ever School Supplies for Kids at Ralston Baptist Church on July 31. Children starting the 6th through 12th grades in the 2010-11 school year can pick up needed school supplies and polo shirts from the church that day. Students must present their most recent report cards to qualify for the school supplies.
WCP 6.03.10 | | | | |
