STUDENT DRESS CODE

The following regulations shall be used for implementation of the Student Dress Code policy:

1. The wearing of apparel that has on it any writing, printing, symbols or pictures that is judged to be immoral, lewd, or, vulgar, or is suggestive and/or implies sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, or other subjects disruptive to the normal operation of the school, or which interfere with normal educational functions or school purposes, is prohibited.

2. Bare midriffs, halter tops, muscle shirts, and tank tops, or any other garments which unduly or suggestively expose the upper torso are prohibited, beginning with Grade Four through Grade Twelve.

3. All skirts and shorts shall approach the knee in length (mid-thigh or lower). Biker shorts are prohibited.

4. All students are required to wear footwear, such as boots, shoes, or sandals. Footwear which is unsafe, inhibits movement, creates a disturbance, or which is disruptive, either by appearance or sound, is prohibited.

5. The wearing of clothing which is torn in such a way as to cause disruptions to or distractions from the educational process, is prohibited.

6. Any extreme in clothing, hair, cosmetics, jewelry, or appearance that may disrupt normal operations of the school, or which interfere with normal educational functions or school purposes, is prohibited.

7. HATS/CAPS - Students are not permitted to wear hats/caps unless it is for a special occasion which has been approved by the school.

8. Any jewelry or other items are prohibited when worn in any pierced body part other than the ear.

Additional regulations may be added by school administrators if such regulations are deemed important to an orderly implementation of the policy. New proposed regulations shall be approved by the Superintendent of Schools and presented to the School Board prior to any such implementation.

A student whose dress and grooming does not conform to the above standards, or any subsequently approved standard(s), will be referred to the principal or his/her designee. Students will be informed by the principal, or his/her designee, as to what adjustments must be made in order to comply with approved standards. Dress and/or grooming adjustments may be made immediately by the student in the presence of the principal or his/her designee. Or, if it is determined by the principal or his/her designee, a student may be sent home, with parent permission, for the purpose of complying with approved dress and/or grooming standards. Students who are sent home must return to school immediately with the problem corrected. Students shall not be sent home whenever a parent or guardian is away from the home. If a student chooses not to remedy or correct a problem, his/her parent(s) or guardian will be contacted immediately to arrange a conference for the purpose of:

l. Building communication linkages between home and school regarding the student's behavior.

2. Developing an understanding of the issue by the parent(s) or guardian.

3. Encouraging and receiving parental or guardian support and commitment to correct the problem.

4. Outlining consequences for failure to correct the problem.

If the problem remains uncorrected, the student will be removed from the class, activity or school until the student corrects the problem. The student will be subject to suspension and expulsion during this period of time. Dress and grooming regulations will become incorporated in student handbooks and distributed directly to parents/guardian and students following approval by the Superintendent of Schools and presentation to the School Board.

ADVERSE WEATHER PLANS

Because the potential always exists for adverse weather conditions, the Warrick County School Corporation has adopted the following set of plans that may be used this school year.

PLAN A - School as usual.

PLAN B - No school in Warrick County.

PLAN C - All schools in Warrick County to start one hour later. (This plan could be used when we have early morning fog, sleet, or snow with temperatures hovering around the freezing point.) This plan would also allow much of the business traffic to be out of the way when driving conditions are not ideal and buses would only add to traffic congestion, if they traveled at their usual time.

PLAN D - Schools in Warrick County will be open with no buses running. (This plan could be used when extended periods of cold weather, coupled with heavy snow, keep secondary roads impractical for bus travel.)

PLAN E - Schools in Warrick County will be open with buses running on highways or main secondary roads. (With this plan, bus drivers would need to communicate with students as to where individual pick up points would be located.

The plans listed above are different alternatives that could be used during bad weather periods; however, any decision about school closing will normally be made at approximately 6:00 A.M. the morning of the school day in question. When the decision is made, the Warrick County School Corporation will notify all local radio and television stations, and they, in turn, will relay the message to parents and students. PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE ASKED NOT TO CALL THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, AS THE TELEPHONES MUST BE KEPT OPEN. REMEMBER: If there is no announcement, school will be held as usual.

EARLY DISMISSALS

Because of weather conditions, heating failure, power failure, or water failure, it may become necessary to dismiss school early. Notification of early dismissal will be made on the same radio and TV stations listed under Adverse Weather Plans in this handbook. All children should be instructed in advance by their parents as to where they are to go. If the schools are not notified otherwise, all children will be sent home. In addition to early dismissal, possible conditions might arise that make it necessary to keep pupils at school past normal dismissal time for their safety.