Information and Links for Staff / Dress Code

Employee Dress Code

The Jones County Board of Education voted unanimously on March 2, 2007 to institute a mandatory uniform policy for grades PreK-12 in the Jones County Public Schools. Board members also reaffirmed their commitment to expectations of appropriate dress for all faculty and staff members.

All staff of the Jones County Public Schools serve as role models for the students with whom they work. The Board of Education expects all employees to dress professionally and appropriately relative to their specific job duties and responsibilities. The wearing of uniforms is required as a condition for employment in particular positions, i.e. food service, maintenance and custodial staff. Employees, not required to wear uniforms, may choose to wear uniforms, using the criteria established by the Board of Education. The overriding principle is that all employees, while on duty, are representatives of the Jones County Public Schools.

Faculty and staff members 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, obscene, or which endangers the health or safety of the students or others is prohibited.

Examples of prohibited dress or appearance include, but are not limited to: Jewelry affixed to employee's nose, tongue, cheek, lip, or eyebrow; clothing which is provocative, revealing, indecent, vulgar, or obscene; low necklines; bare midriffs; excessively tight clothing; clothing which promotes alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or use of controlled substances by words or symbols; clothin g that contains profanity or nudity, depicts violence, or is sexual in nature by words or symbols; flip flops; bedroom shoes; undergarments worn as an outer garment or any see-through clothing; hats, sweatbands, bandanas, or sunglasses inside school buildings; any item of clothing or jewelry that creates a disruption of the school environment/learning activities or that poses a threat to the safety and well being of students or staff. Individual schools are free to specify additional examples of dress or appearance that are prohibited at that school under the terms of this policy.

Reasonable accommodations shall be made by the appropriate supervisor for those employees, who, because of a sincerely held religious belief, cultural heritage, or medical reason request a waiver of a particular part of this policy for dress or appearance.

Supervisors and school level administrators are authorized to interpret and enforce this policy. Any employee in violation of this policy will be asked by his or her supervisor to go home and change clothes and refrain from wearing such clothing in the future. Repeated problems with an employee's inappropriate dress or appearance may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Note: The principal of the school or appropriate supervisor may designate special days during which reasonable modifications to this policy may be made and shall require all staff members to wear uniforms for specific occasions.

Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, the guidelines and procedures set forth in this publication shall apply to all Jones County School employees. The dress code will be mandated during the 180 instructional days for all Jones County Public Schools.

Employee Dress/Appearance Policy

• Sweat pants/wind suits/shorts are prohibited unless the employee is teaching a physical education class.

• Physical Education teachers must wear appropriate dress when not teaching physical education classes.

• Capri length pants are acceptable.

• Form fitting spandex material, nylon, and denim are prohibited.

• Tank-top style garments are prohibited, unless covered by a jacket or sweater. Sleeveless garments for female employees are acceptable.

• T-shirts are prohibited.

• Vocational teachers must wear approved clothing or aprons when teaching shop classes.

• Employees may wear uniforms.

• More casual dress will be acceptable on teacher workdays. However, attire must still be appropriate dress, particularly on parent conference day.

• Examples of attire considered inappropriate for school employees are listed elsewhere in this brochure.

Last Modified on July 8, 2010