Troy School District Superintendent Will Ask for Minor Revision in Dress Code

In a back-to-school letter addressed to Troy parents, Troy School District 30C superintendent Don White refers to Troy’s new dress code as “the hot topic” of the summer.

The dress code goes into effect Aug. 21, the first day of the new school year.

The code, approved by the school board in April, requires all 5-8 grade students to dress for school every day in khaki pants and solid color polo shirts.

“However, I will be asking the board to approve one more revision to the Grades 5‐8 dress code at the Aug. 21 meeting,” White said in the letter. “This revision provides some clarifying language and recommends that the board approve adding polo shirts with stripes.

“For now, however, please plan on only wearing solid color polo shirts as was previously approved. A copy of what I will be recommending to the board at the August meeting can be found online at http://donwhite.troy30c.org.”

White goes to say he wanted to share some information that is mostly applicable to grades 5-8 regarding the dress code:

• Comfort Wear: We expect that some students will want to wear some type of over garment when they are at school due to personal comfort needs (e.g., they are cold in air conditioning, it is winter, etc.). We will allow students to wear an outer garment as long as it is in compliance with the intent of the code and they are wearing a polo shirt or approved spirit wear under the outer garment (e.g., no slogans, logo not bigger than a pocket, etc.).
• The district will institute a two‐week phase‐in period for the 2013‐2014 dress code. During the two‐week phase‐in period,students will receive warnings if they are not in compliance with the district's dress code. If an employee finds that the student is not in compliance with the dress code during the two‐week phase‐in period, the student will receive a verbal warning that will not be recorded in the district's discipline data system. If a student receives a second warning during the two‐week phase‐in, a written notice will be given to the student and emailed or mailed via U.S. mail to the parent/guardian.
• Students in grades 5‐6 may be asked to change into their gym outfit if they are not in compliance with the dress code during the two‐week phase‐in period. However, beginning with the first day of school, students at Troy Middle School that are not in compliance with the dress code will be asked to change into their gym outfit or other clothing that complies with the dress code.
• After the two‐week phase‐in period, students will receive one warning that will be entered into the district discipline system. The student will receive a detention for the second dress code violation after the two‐week phase‐in period. Should a student receive three or more dress code violations, the student will be subjected to progressive discipline measures for insubordination (e.g., Saturday school detention, in‐school and out‐of‐school suspensions). If a student moves in outside of the phase‐in period, they will be afforded the two‐week phase‐in period as detailed above.

“In closing, I will share that the beginning of every school year is a very exciting, nervous time for all employees and students,” White said in his letter to parents. “Students are nervous about seeing old friends and making new friends. Students may be nervous about achieving at a level that pleases themselves and their parents.

“Teachers are nervous about whether they will be able to connect with each student in a way that motivates them to learn. Teachers are also nervous about meeting the high expectations of parents. Ultimately, we will settle into the new year.”