FILE: GAMB
EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE
Each employee of the St. Martin Parish School Board shall be expected to give proper attention to his/her personal appearance as required by work responsibilities. The St. Martin Parish School Board is one of the largest employers in St. Martin Parish and the image projected by its employees is an important influence on the degree of public support it receives. An appropriately dressed employee not only serves as a suitable role model for our students but also has a positive impact on the general learning environment. Extremes in any clothing should be avoided (i.e., too tight, too short, clothing that causes a distraction or disrupts the learning environment.)
GUIDELINES
Male and female employees may wear earrings. However, large gauge earrings, or disk earrings that stretch the ear are unacceptable. The only allowable piercing jewelry shall be earrings worn on the ear.
Neatly groomed beards are permissible. Male employees are encouraged to keep hair of a moderate length, neat, and trim. Hair for both male and female employees should be neatly styled as becomes a professional.
Dresses, skirts, and split/skirts must be of no more than 2” above the kneecap when standing.
Shorts will be considered inappropriate for all employees, with the exception of physical education instructors while performing within their instructional areas. Shorts may be no shorter than 2” above the knee while standing.
Pants, capris, and any other pant-like clothing must be mid-calf to ankle length.
Any tight fitting or clinging attire is inappropriate for school/office wear. Additionally, necklines should be modest. (i.e., cleavage shall be covered) Sleeveless attire must measure from neckline to shoulder 3½ to 4 inches, or otherwise be worn with a jacket or cardigan.
Recreational clothing, sweat suits, sweat pants, overalls, t-shirts, and jogging suits may not be worn. Exception: T-shirts may be worn on designated spirit days.
Jeans may be worn only on a designated spirit days and must be worn with a school spirit shirt. (Exception: District office employees may wear jeans and a shirt as approved by their supervisor on designated days.) Spirit days will be determined by the building administrator, but cannot be allowed more than one day per week. Jeans may be worn on field trips with approval of the building administrator. Jeans should never be worn on parent-teacher conference days.
Dress jeans of other colors may not be worn except on designated spirit days.
Teachers of agriscience, career and technical education classes at the CCRC, nurses, bus operators and custodians will be required to dress appropriately according to their job descriptions/responsibilities, as approved by program/building administrators.
Scrubs may be worn by custodians, cafeteria technicians, and special education paraprofessionals.
Any current fad presented in a professional format may be considered and/or approved by building administrator, as long as the fad does not directly contradict a specific policy in this employee dress code. (i.e., Colored jeans may be in style, but may not be approved as policy expressly forbids them.)
Leggings, opaque tights, and other such clothing may only be worn with a shirt, blouse, or dress that reaches at least mid-thigh.
Appropriate, professional footwear shall be required. No rubber, foam, or plastic flip-flops may be worn. Any deviation from the footwear policy requires a physician’s excuse with a specific description of footwear.
Tattoos which are distracting, or not appropriate for students, must be covered. Building administrators shall make this determination.
Unnatural* hair color and/or distracting hair styles shall not be allowed. *Unnatural is defined as not occurring on human beings. (i.e., purple, green, pink, etc.)
Revised: April 6, 2016
Effective: July 1, 2016
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:81
Board minutes, 4-7-99, 5-5-99, 5-7-03, 4-6-16
St. Martin Parish School Board