Board Approves New Dress Code Policy
April 17, 2002 - After a year of studying the issue and
receiving public input, a revised dress code policy was approved
by the Board of Education during their meeting April 16. The
new dress code policy will go into effect at the beginning
of the 2002-2003 school year.
New dress code policy for 2002-2003
Principals shall exercise appropriate discretion
in implementing this policy, including making reasonable accommodations
on the basis of students' religious beliefs or medical conditions.
Students are expected to adhere to standards of dress and
appearance that are compatible with an effective learning
environment. Presenting a bodily appearance or wearing clothing
which is disruptive, provocative, revealing, profane, vulgar,
offensive or obscene, or which endangers the health and safety
of the student or others is prohibited. Examples of prohibited
dress or appearance include, but are not limited to, exposed
undergarments; sagging pants; excessively short or tight garments;
bare midriff shirts; strapless shirts; attire with messages
or illustrations that are lewd, indecent, or vulgar or that
advertise any product or service not permitted by law to minors;
head covering of any kind; see-through clothing; attire that
exposes cleavage; any adornment such as chains or spikes that
reasonably could be perceived as or used as a weapon; and
any symbols, styles or attire frequently associated with intimidation,
violence or violent groups about which students at a particular
school have been notified. Individual schools are free to
specify additional examples of dress or appearance that are
prohibited at that school under terms of this policy.
If a student's dress or appearance is such
that it constitutes a threat to the health or safety of others,
distracts the attention of other students or staff from their
work or otherwise violates this dress code, the principal
or the principal’s designee may require the student to
change his or her dress or appearance. A second or repeated
violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action.
Background
The process to revise the dress code policy started last
year after Superintendent Bill McNeal met with the high schools'
student body presidents. The students indicated to McNeal
that something needed to be done about the current dress code.
McNeal and several board members had also heard the same thing
from other individuals and groups, so they decided it was
time to take a look at the current policy to see if it was
sufficient.
A dress code committee was formed, headed by Assistant Superintendent
Luther Cherry, consisting of 15 people including teachers,
principals, parents, students, attorneys and central office
staff. The group met for several months and developed recommendations
for changes to the present policy. Members of the committee
believed the current policy needed to be more specific and
decided to expand the policy to give principals more support
in enforcing the dress code at their schools.
In an effort to include as much community input as possible, board members took the committee's recommended revisions to each of their board advisory councils for discussion and input. There are nine board advisory councils, one for each district, across the county made up of parents, staff and community members. Each board advisory council studied the proposal and submitted recommendations on the policy.
The proposed policy, along with the recommendations from
the board advisory councils, was then sent to the board's
policy committee. The policy committee reviewed the proposal
during its meeting on April 2. After a lengthy discussion,
the committee decided to recommend the policy to the Board
of Education on April 16.
Faculty/Employee Dress Code
The dress code committee also drafted a new dress code for
faculty and employees that was reviewed by the board advisory
councils and the policy committee. There has been no dress
code policy for faculty and employees in the past, only a
code of conduct.
The proposed policy for faculty and staff is as follows:
All faculty and employees of the Wake County
Public School System serve as role models for the students
with whom they work and as leaders in the community. Consistent
with these roles, all faculty and employees shall dress in
a manner and have an appearance that is appropriate and professional
in light of the environment in which they work, the duties
of their jobs, and the impressionable youth they serve. Supervisors
and school level administrators are authorized to interpret
this policy and their interpretations shall be given deference.
This policy was presented to the Board of Education on April 16 for first reading. Board members will vote on the policy during their May 7 meeting.