11.1 School Employee Dress Code

Employees of Broken Arrow Public Schools shall demonstrate through dress and grooming an appreciation and respect for the Education Profession.

All Certified Employees are considered professionals, and, as such, are encouraged to display a professional appearance when serving as a representative of the School System. Professional dress shall be defined is that dress generally accepted by the community as acceptable for day-time, office wear.

As professionals, Certified Employees should be allowed the discretion to select appropriate dress for the duties to which they are assigned. Allowances should be made for activities and/or responsibilities on an individual, day-by-day basis.
Each building will create a Building Dress Code Committee to establish building standards and expectations. The Building Dress Code Committee will be a standing committee composed of the Building Principal or Supervisor or his or her designee and at least two Certified Employees chosen by election of the Certified Employees in that building.

It will be the responsibility of the Building Principal or Supervisor to determine if a Certified Employee's appearance is improper or inappropriate. It would be their responsibility to notify said Employee of their concerns. At that point, Employee and Building Principal or Supervisor should work toward a mutually agreed upon resolution.

If a mutual resolution cannot be reached, then the Certified Employee will have ten days to submit a written request to the Building Principal or Supervisor, requesting the situation be reviewed by the Building Dress Code Committee.

1. The Building Dress Code Committee will convene as needed within ten days upon receiving a request for review.
2. Both the Building Principal or Supervisor and the Certified Employee who made the request will be allowed to present their rationales at the Building Dress Code Committee meeting.
3. The Building Dress Code Committee will then decide by vote on a resolution to the situation.
4. The district's complaint resolution process is available for further appeal.
The Building Principal or Supervisor and/or Building Dress Code Committee will have the power to declare any special dress days.

Plant Operations and Maintenance Departments Staff:

1. Support staff members in maintenance, custodial, warehouse, and grounds maintenance assignments are encouraged to wear uniform-style shirts and trousers. Dress must be neat and appropriate to the activity.
2. Work clothing of denim, twill or comparable material, and any shirt containing insignia, may be approved by the department director.

3. Shoes shall be closed-toe style with leather upper, appropriate for individual work assignments.
4. Alternative dress may be approved by the department director depending on activity and weather conditions.
5. Any dress and accessories worn must meet safety standards.
6. Employee identification badges shall be worn at all times when an employee is on duty.

Child Nutrition Staff:

1. Employees in Child Nutrition Programs assignments shall wear specified uniform items defined in employee handbook. Employee guidelines include type and color of uniforms, type and color of shoes, aprons, hair coverings, and restrictions on jewelry, makeup and nail polish.
2. Child Nutrition employee identification badges shall be worn at all times when an employee is on duty.

Transportation Department Staff:

1. Employees in Transportation Department assignments shall comply with clothing guidelines defined in department employee's handbook.

2. Employee identification badges shall be worn at all times when an employee is on duty.

Office/Secretarial/Clerical Staff:

1. Employees assigned to office positions shall wear clothing appropriate for persons employed in professional, business and office assignments.
2. Office employees shall meet dress code requirements established for classroom teachers.

The support division director is delegated authority to act upon dress code violations, and to determine proper action to be taken in issues related to the dress code.

Source: Broken Arrow Board of Education policy adoption, August 18, 1986; amended July 25, 1994.