FILE:  GAMB

 

EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE

 

 

All teachers, administrators, paraprofessional and central office professional staff are expected to wear attire which will promote and bring dignity to the education profession. Pleasing appearance in dress and manner influences the reaction of students to the teacher or other staff.  The individual particular about personal appearance not only contributes to his/her own acceptance by others, but also influences the attitudes of students and adults toward the teaching profession.

 

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 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.

 

The School Board shall not discriminate against an employee on the basis of a natural, protective or cultural hairstyle.  Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle shall include, but is not limited to, afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs, braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair texture or for cultural significance.

 

Employees shall abide by the following guidelines:

 

Female Employees:

 

  1. No stirrup pants are allowed.

  2. Sun dresses are allowed provided they are worn with a jacket at all times.

  3. Low cut or see-through blouses or shirts, tank tops or halter tops are not allowed. (Culottes are permissible.)

  4. Shirts or blouses which expose the midriff are not allowed.

 

Male Employees:

 

  1. Beards are permissible if neatly groomed.

  2. Ties are optional.

  3. Shirts that exposed the midriff are not allowed.

 

All of the above applies to substitute teachers as well.

 

Due to the nature of their jobs and for safety reasons, individuals employed in agriculture classes may wear appropriate work clothes.

 

Physical education teachers are allowed to wear coaching shorts only during such times as they are actually instructing students in physical education.  Other than during actual physical educational instruction, coaches are required to wear warm-ups or trousers.

 

DETERMINATIONS OF APPROPRIATE, MODEST AND/OR PROFESSIONAL DRESS SHALL BE MADE BY THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

 

New policy:  March 12, 2013

Revised:  October 4, 2022

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 23:332

Board minutes, 3-12-13, 10-4-22

 

Catahoula Parish School Board