As reported in the August 19th, Alliance Update NOW Newsletter: At the SAISD School Board Meeting on June 21, the Dress Code Policy DH (Local) went through its first and only reading and no action was taken. The school board left the dress code policy as it has been for many years -- "clean, neat, in a manner appropriate for their assignments, and in accordance with any additional standards established by their supervisors and approved by the Superintendent." The proposed change that generated the most discussion was a limitation on the wearing of jeans. The Alliance conducted a survey this summer asking whether employees supported the administration's proposal to only allow blue jeans to be worn on Fridays or "spirit days." 48% of respondents supported the proposal, 47% did not support it, and 5% were neutral. If changes to dress code have been made at your specific worksite, you may ask for a copy of the version the Superintendent signed off on.
However, many SAISD employees have reported that the District sent all principals a memo requiring that the principals submit a dress code for their worksite. After speaking with the District Administration, they confirmed to Alliance president Shelley Potter that the memo was not intended to direct principals to institute a specific dress code. According to Toni Thompson in Human Resources, there are no deadlines to submitting a revised worksite dress code and it is not mandatory that principals do so.
The Alliance team will continue to push for procedures to be adopted that guarantee input and buy-in from the campus staff prior to stricter standards being imposed at a campus.
Should you have a concern with a revised dress code policy at your worksite and you are an Alliance member, please contact the Alliance office.
Copyright 2010 San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel