The Governor Wentworth Regional School Board has a responsibility to assure that the atmosphere in the schools is conducive to learning and fosters an environment of respect. Student dress plays an important part in creating an educational tone that demands both academic rigor and high standards of discipline. Additionally, appropriate dress is often a requisite for employment and, therefore, this topic is consistent with meaningful instruction and consequential student learning.

The standard for student dress in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District allows, within a defined set of parameters, a choice in clothing. Generally speaking, each individual is allowed to dress according to her/his personal preference provided that the execution of her/his selection does not interfere with the rights of others, cause disruption to the educational program, damage school property, or is considered a health or safety hazard.

The Board recognizes that the responsibility for the appearance of the students rests with the parents and the students themselves but the enforcement of the standard is the responsibility of all District employees.

To assist with the understanding of the dress standard, the following guidelines and accompanying regulation have been established:

· Dress and grooming shall be clean and in keeping with health, sanitary, and safety requirements. All clothing shall be neat, clean and free of holes that could be considered obscene or provocative.

· Any article of clothing that could create a hazard to the wearer or to others sharing the school environment shall not be acceptable.

· Dress and grooming shall not be such as to disrupt the teaching-learning process.

· Clothing shall be free of provocative or obscene writing or graphics.

· Clothing imprinted with slogans or graphics that refer to sex, violence, discrimination and/or drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) shall not be worn on school property.

· Articles of clothing and/or accessories that can cause physical damage to the facility are unacceptable.

· Hats and sunglasses shall not be worn inside the school building and along with backpacks, shall be stored in student lockers or cubbies while classes are in session.

Building principals are authorized to issue regulations and/or additional guidelines in order to implement this policy. The Superintendent of Schools must approve such regulations and guidelines prior to their dissemination.

Disciplinary action shall be taken with any student violating this policy.

All students shall receive a copy of this policy at the beginning of September 2000. Following that, all new students shall receive a copy of the policy when they register at a school. The policy shall be printed in the school student/parent handbook. Brochures and posters shall be printed and distributed with examples of both appropriate and inappropriate dress. These brochures shall be reviewed with students during the first week of school. Brochures shall be available to parents during Back-to-School events. Additionally, examples of appropriate and inappropriate dress shall be posted on the District's website.

· Tops - all tops shall cover at least the entire shoulder area and extend to the start of the clothing article that covers the lower body. Bare middles or the exposure of cleavage shall not be permitted. Additionally, for boys, the top must have a sleeve that extends to approximately the middle of the bicep. Tops shall not be sheer nor shall they permit the exposure of any part of a student's undergarments. There shall be no holes in the garment that create an indecent exposure of the student's body. Additionally, the top must conform to the standards set forth in the policy.

· Footwear - Footwear must be worn and be of a type that does not damage property, create a distraction to others nor generate a potential hazard to the wearer. Some examples of unacceptable footwear include: cleated boots, shoes or boots with heels that mar, footwear that has either heels or soles that are high enough to create a safety hazard and footwear that create excessive noise when the wearer is walking are some, but not all, of the examples of such unacceptable footwear.

· Slacks - All slacks must be worn at the waistline and must not drag on the floor when the wearer is walking. Slacks shall be neither excessively baggy nor overly tight. The slacks shall hide undergarments and there shall be no holes in the garment. It shall be understood that an inadvertent tear could appear on a slack that does not create an indecent exposure of the student's body. It is expected that common sense will prevail in handling this type of issue. All aspects of the policy apply to the wearing of slacks.

· Skirts - Skirts shall be worn from the waistline with a minimum length of approximately 3 inches above the knee. Skirts deemed to be overly tight shall not be acceptable. Any slits in the garment shall not extend higher than approximately 3 inches above the knee. Skirts shall not be sheer nor shall they have any holes in the material that create an indecent exposure of the student's body. As with other clothing items, the standards specified in the policy apply to skirts.

· Dresses - Dresses shall conform to the policy standards as well as the requirements articulated for both tops and skirts.

· Shorts - Students may wear shorts provided that the garment conforms to the dress standard. Like slacks, the shorts must be worn at the waistline with mid-thigh as the minimum length.

· Jewelry - no jewelry or accessories shall be worn that could be considered a safety problem. Examples include but are not limited to: oversized earrings, pocket chains or other heavy chains, spiked collars, spiked wristbands, etc. Jewelry or accessories that create a distraction, generate a hazard, or provides a reference to sex, violence, discrimination and drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) shall be considered inappropriate.

 

EXCEPTIONS

The Board recognizes that circumstances may necessitate reasonable variations in the student dress code. Some of the exceptions that may be considered by the building principal and/or Superintendent of Schools include:

· A medical condition supported by a written order from a qualified physician

· Field trips where, due to the nature of the planned activities, a variation in clothing is temporarily requested for the duration of the trip

· Special program requirements such as the wearing of gym shorts for physical education class

· Special dress that is required as part of a school-to-work experience

· A costume that is part of an approved play

· An approved uniform worn by an athletic team

· Special school events that specify a temporary variation in the dress code

A staff member may make a request to the building principal for a variation in the student dress standard. The Board expects that common sense shall be used in allowing such exceptions.

The Board believes that it is every employee's responsibility to enforce the standard of dress articulated in Policy JICCA and this Regulation. Violation of this policy will result in the following:

· First offense - student is sent/brought to the office. Parents are contacted. Student receives a warning and the school administrator shall, if possible, have the student correct the deficiency. Should the violation of the policy be, in the opinion of the administrator, extreme and the student cannot or will not correct it, the student shall be sent home and be readmitted only when the matter is rectified.

· Second offense - student is sent/brought to the office. Parents are contacted. Student is suspended for 1 day. The student shall be required to be appropriately dressed for readmission.

· Third offense - student is sent/brought to the office. Parents are contacted. Student is suspended for 3 days. The student shall be required to be appropriately dressed for readmission.

· Fourth offense - student is sent/brought to the office and is suspended for at least 10 days. The Superintendent shall make a recommendation for expulsion to the Governor Wentworth Regional School Board for the failure of the student to follow the reasonable rules of the school district.