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Professional dress in the classroom and workplace will promote a more positive learning environment, allow teachers to serve as role models for students, and promote more respect for our professional staff.  Therefore, it is expected that when a staff member is acting as a representative of the Manchester School District, he/she shall dress professionally and appropriately. 

Specifically, the list below represents items of clothing and/or accessories which is deemed unprofessional and/or inappropriate:

Unprofessional/inappropriate prohibited dress while representing the Manchester School District:

• Jeans

• T-Shirts with writing, pictures, illustrations or are considered to be underwear

• Tank Tops

• Shorts (of any kind)*

• Sweats, wind suits, or gym clothes*

• Spandex

• Flip Flops and other beachwear

• Athletic performance shoes (sneakers, etc.)*

• Spaghetti-strapped, cropped or tube tops, low-cut tops or dresses and other clothing that result in midriff showing

• Sheer tops or dresses

• Short skirts (more than two inches above the knee)

• Skirts with front slits (more than two inches above the knee)

•  Clothing with holes

• Pajamas

• Leggings worn as slacks or pants or worn with a dress, skirt or top that falls more than 2 inches above the knees

• Facial Piercing (excludes ears with the exception of ear gauges which are prohibited)

• Hats/head covering (allowed for medical reasons, religious practices and food service)

   

Exceptions: 

• For special circumstances and/or one-day events, it shall be permissible for the building administrator to modify the dress code for that specific circumstance and/or event.  In the case of the special circumstance and/or event, the building administrator will notify the Office of the Superintendent with the rationale for the exception.  Exceptions shall not include on-going activities such as casual Fridays as an extended fundraiser.

•  Staff members in the schools are permitted to wear jeans on the first and last days of the school year for teachers.                                              

• Sneakers shall be permitted if there is a medical condition with a doctor’s note placed on file with the building administrator.  Staff shall submit an updated doctor’s note on an annual basis prior to the start of each school year. Sneakers are also acceptable for recess duty.

• Rubber-soled shoes that have the element or look like a sneaker but are a casual shoe are acceptable.

• Dress/professional sandals are acceptable. Shoes without backs are acceptable providing they are secure and not casual.

• Pants, such as capris, that are mid-calf in length are acceptable.

• Classroom appropriate attire that is professional in nature and adheres to industry safety standards, i.e. specialized footwear, coveralls, smocks and head coverings may be required in certain areas and is acceptable.

   

*Physical Education teachers are exempt when teaching physical education. They shall comply with the dress code on work days when they are not teaching.

*Coaches are exempt at athletic events at which they are coaching.

Revised from: 5/15/10, 8/9/10

First Reading Coordination:  9/13/11

Second Reading and Adoption by BOSC: 9/26/11