Carson City may enact teacher dress code

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999 | 10:56 a.m.

And there won't be any complaints from students, because the proposed prohibitions are aimed at teachers and school administrators.

The dress code proposal has the backing of both administrators and all unions, Associate Superintendent Mary Pierczynski said.

"Most of our employees look fine when they come to work," she said. "Some don't come to school looking as professional as they could be."

The school Board of Trustees last week got the first look at a proposed dress code that will need two formal readings and two votes before it is enacted. That is expected to come in the next month or two.

The proposed dress code is based on one adopted in Clark County schools, Pierczynski said. It was developed with the assistance of teachers, administrators and other staff, she said.

Washoe and Douglas counties do not have formal dress codes for teachers.

Exceptions to the policy will be allowed, usually on approval from site administrators such as the school principal.

"Every Friday is Spirit Day at our school," Principal Kirk Kinne of Bordewich-Bray Elementary School said. "Everyone is encouraged to wear Bordewich-Bray shirts. This is a very special day."

Such days can be incorporated to an individual school's rules, Pierczynski said.

Kinne said he has discussed the proposed policy with his staff and, "the overwhelming response was: 'It's about time,' " he said.

"We feel the policy is necessary, we feel it is appropriate, and we feel it is not too demanding," Pierczynski said. "We do not think a dress-down look is appropriate at our schools. Our students are too important."

Under the proposed rules, the wearing of blue denim jeans is discouraged. However, if they are worn, they should be dressed up with a professional-looking sweater, blouse, shirt with a collar and appropriate footwear.

According to the board, the following are not considered to be appropriate attire:

For men, shorts more than four inches above the knee, tank tops, muscle shirts, sweat suits or warm-ups, collarless T-shirts, spandex or Lycra as an outer garment or similar tight-fitting outfits.

For women, shorts or skirts more than four inches above the knee, provocative shirts, tank tops, crop tops which show the midriff area, muscle shirts, sweat suits, warm-ups, spandex or Lycra as an outer garment or similar tight outfits.

For all, slippers, work boots, foot thongs, sandals with no hosiery (unless approved by the principal or supervisor in hot weather) and other similar casual foot apparel.