FILE: GAMB
EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE
The Franklin Parish School Board recognizes that teachers, employees, and administrators have traditionally upheld high standards of professionalism, including that of appropriate personal appearance and professional attire. In accordance with that tradition, the School Board embraces the following standards as they relate to employee dress and a positive, professional public image.
DRESS AND PERSONAL GROOMING
Employees on a daily basis shall dress as professionals, in businesslike attire in order to set a good example for co-employees, students and the general public. 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. Administrators 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 employee 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.
EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE
The guidelines of the School Board shall be that no mode of attire shall be considered proper for school wear that distracts from or disrupts classroom and school decorum. To maintain a proper image for teachers, it is the responsibility of principals to see that teachers are appropriately dressed.
Principals or building administrators may make exceptions to the mode of dress in specific shop-type situations where deemed appropriate. Any condition of grooming or dress judged inappropriate by the principal or building administrators shall not be allowed.
Guidelines
The provisions of the employee dress code shall be applicable to teachers, administrators, substitute teachers, student teachers, teacher aides, and any others who have responsibilities for the instruction of children, as well as to clerical personnel. These standards also apply to employees at the Central Office, and any other off-campus facilities.
GUIDELINES
Dresses, skirts, and split skirts shall be of a modest and appropriate length. Unacceptable length shall be determined by the school administration.
Walking/city shorts of appropriate length shall be acceptable but shall be worn with a jacket, blazer or vest and stockings or tights.
Loose-fitting stirrup pants shall be permitted, but leggings may not be worn. Any tight fitting or clinging attire shall not be considered appropriate for school wear.
Recreational clothing, warm-up suits, tee-shirts, and wind suits shall not be worn.
For bus operators, uniform shorts with coordinated shirts shall be permitted.
Appropriate foot wear shall be required at all times.
Blue jeans may be worn on designated “spirit days” when worn with a school spirit shirt. On these occasions, athletic shoes/tennis shoes/sneakers may be worn.
Designated “spirit days” for middle and high school faculties should be limited and not a weekly occurrence throughout the year. In addition, elementary faculties may wear jeans, school spirit shirts, and tennis shoes on designated activity days such as field days or field trips. Elementary teachers may wear tennis shoes on special occasions only.
School administrators shall meet with teachers of physical education, industrial arts and vocational agriculture to determine the appropriate dress for their work activities. Central Office program administrators shall also meet with non-clerical support staff in their areas for this purpose. Non-clerical staff shall be required to wear uniforms or dress deemed appropriate by their supervisor.
No hats or caps in the building except for workers who need a hat to perform their duties or people who wear a hat/cap for religious reasons.
Revised: July, 2022
Revised: November 1, 2022
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 23:332
Board minutes, 8-6-01, 9-4-01, 5-5-14, 11-1-22
Franklin Parish School Board