The Daily News

FRANKLINTON - Teachers and other employees of the Washington Parish School System must abide by a new dress code or face penalties such as administrative counseling and letters of reprimand.

The Washington Parish School Board approved the 14-point dress code last week.

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Much of the code disallows certain clothing such as: no shorts, no jogging suits, no leggings or bike shorts, no spaghetti strap dresses (unless they have appropriate jacket or covering), no low-cut tops and no shower shoes, flip-flops or Crocs. Some exceptions are allowed, such as coaches wearing shorts during physical education classes.

Leading to the new policy, school board members and Superintendent Darrell Fairburn discussed, unfavorably, the professional dress of some employees - particularly teachers - at previous meetings.

School principals are responsible for enforcing the policy. First-time offenders face counseling by an administrator with a copy of the conference going into the individual's school personnel file. After the second offense, a conference will be held with the offender and his or her immediate supervisor, and a letter of reprimand shall be placed in the personnel file. A third offense brings an additional letter of reprimand and a visit to the school district's personnel director. Other items outlawed by the new policy include: denim jeans, visible tattoos, see-through mesh garments and t-shirts (unless they have a school-related graphic).

Previous to last week's meeting, the school system had no dress code.