Actually Stubby, when is the board "required" to negotiate?
Which will occur first, the contract expiring...or...the bought and paid for Wisconsin Supremes upholding Scooters law?

Either way...get used to it...in some form or another it is here to stay.

This is simply step 1 of the "payback" that the Janesville Board is extracting from the teachers for not re-opening a contract 2 years ago. (And before the comments start again -that contract was long negotiated and approved by both parties BEFORE Act 10 was even proposed). The Board can create an vindictive handbook, but they will find, like so many other districts in the state that have done so (New Berlin), that teachers will flee to neighboring districts with better working conditions. This new era of "free agency" for teachers will be hard on districts that take such a punitive view of their employees.

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Even more interesting.....with Act 10 suspended, the Board is still required to negotiate a contract with the JEA...so all this handbook posturing could be useless if the JEA refuses to sign off.

csense;
I understand your point of view and I agree with you about the collared crap.
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I also believe that a person's attire depicts one's attitude!
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Look good, feel good, do good!

killngrill - my comment was simply to point out that there are a number of different kinds of shirts/blouses that are appropriate that do not necessarliy have collars. As far as good role models go, it has more to do with attitude than looks. Will we still be "good role models" on "casual Fridays" or "Spirit Days" when the code is relaxed?

It isn't a matter of the JSD suddenly thinking teachers dress inappropriately. It's that next year the policies will no longer be ruled by Union contract.....so the JSD has to come up with their own policies and their own employee handbook. Which, apparently, they are struggling with.

I would like to know why Mr. Distefano suddenly thinks school staff doesn't dress appropriately and why there should be a dress code. The next thing you know, someone will bring up charging teachers to park in the school lots.

How about.. just say "NO cleavage"!!!

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skinnypuppy
Nov 11, 2012 at 1:15 p.m.
Suggest removal

ONLY collared shirts? No turtlenecks with a blazer? It's just weird...drop all of it and state business or business casual is required...educated adults know what this means, and if a few employees don't abide by it, that is why principals make over 90 grand a year...they can pull the employee in for a discussion and send him or her home to change. Duh."
I agree but the teacher that doesn't know how to dress will complain and toss out stupid reason why the dress IS okay and "it isn't in the rule book that I cannot wear this" ..."show me where is says I cannot wear this"
Ever had a job where there was a dress code and people try to push the limits and get away with stuff because it "isn't in the rule book that way"

Does this dress code apply to the school board?

This article and these comments suggest that there is officially no such thing as "common sense" anymore. The latter half of the list reads like the student dress code when I was in school. It's no longer "do as I say, not as I do."

I simply can't learn when some one is wearing jeans!

I think the Teachers should have to follow the same dress code that the students have to follow (ie: no spaghetti straps) but I don't see how a skull and crossbones tattoo is going to effect a child's education. While I agree that something offensive or racist in a tattoo isn't proper, I would caution the board on saying what types of tattoos are proper. The board needs to focus on our children's education, not on being judges on the TV show Ink Master!

csense:
Read what you just wrote and tell me how many "kids", that need good role models, spend most of the day in banks, law firms, or accounting firms? Hmmmmmmm........

danias: Where does your kid go to school? I'd like to check that teacher out. :-)

I feel this is a good thing the way some of the teachers dress they should be is a dress code my kid teachers her skirt is very very short and her boobs fall out then spike heels even my daughter and her friends says she and a few others dress slutty that sad when kids say it. I even said something to another teacher and she just grin and said they can :(

How does this compare to the dress codes of other professional organizations? Is it more strict than the dress codes for local banks, attorneys' offices, or accounting firms? How about administrative positions at Mercy or at Dean? Does anyone here know what their written policies are?

If teachers truly are the professionals they claim to be when wanting a pay raise; as they so often try to compare themselves to the private sector professionals; then a dress code would be a non issue for them, as it is in the private sector.

Employee handbooks without employee input are pretty much the norm in a non-union setting.... just saying .... the JSD is an employer, not a union. Is 3 pages overkill? Probably. But are they bullies? Or do they just not know how to write an effective dress code?

More hypocrisy...Walker-made-possible employee handbooks without employee input.
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GOPers....what hypocrites... rail against government regulations and then pile on rules and regs for principals to enforce and teachers to abide by. Defenders of liberty....bunch of bull.
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New Republican Tea Party slogan...."Don't Tread on Me, But I'll Tread on You"

They have no business being in China. It should be posted who paid for this trip and how much it cost.

ONLY collared shirts? No turtlenecks with a blazer? It's just weird...drop all of it and state business or business casual is required...educated adults know what this means, and if a few employees don't abide by it, that is why principals make over 90 grand a year...they can pull the employee in for a discussion and send him or her home to change. Duh.

motorman- Lol, now your talkin'

The School Board should publish the proposal so everyone can see what the complaint is all about. I read a copy of it and it is crazy what they have written in there. This isn't about school staff whining, this is about the Board trying to be the bully. Thought we didn't put up with bullies in school, guess it depends on who the bully is. Another thought, perhaps the criteria for being a board member should be having actual experience as an educator at some point prior to running or being elected. I'm just saying....

This is an example of what has been feared once the current contract expires. A whole bunch of muscle flexing by some members of the school board and possibly the ESC when the teachers were not willing to reopen their contract. It really hinges on vindictive. Should there be a dress code with a few more specifics than the current one? Possibly. Should it be a 3 page document with specifics on collars and jewelry plus many other things? Sounds very much like overkill and dictatorial. Paraeducators and substitute paras and substitute teachers don't make enough to revamp their wardrobe to include collared tops, etc. I think the key here is if the administrators feel their staff is dressing unprofessional, they need to adress that with their members. If they feel they are dressing professional, then leave it alone. Trust your decision on the administrators that YOU the BOE chose to hire to run your individual schools.

smallBIZowner
I've always thought it was kind of ceepy when a teacher dresses promiscuously for the students. A dress code has always been needed, but some teachers seem to have some kind of a strange need to tease the students.
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I haven't witnessed what you have but looking at this dress code only one, maybe two items address that issue.
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Collared shirts, blue jeans, etc... have NOTHING to do with your concern. That is the problem. Again, administrators are already REQUIRED to address inappropriate dress... that is why it isn't an issue. It may happen from time to time but isn't an issue.
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This remains a waste of time.

ALLin
"""Oh no - the teachers might have to dress responsibly - better get the union to stop that attempt."""
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REALITY CHECK
"""School district workers are now asked to wear “appropriate attire,” but there are no specific rules. Principals and other supervisors have discretion to decide what is OK."""
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So, district employees are already expected to dress appropriately OR "responsibly" and the ADMINISTRATORS are required to enforce the "appropriate" or "responsible" dress code.
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I question why their isn't just a move to have administrators do their job. I think even the public teacher haters (billnewbie, wislady, etc...) would admit that the vast majority of JSD staff dress appropriately. Why can't administrators simply do their job with those that don't? What prevents an administrator from having that conversation?
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My guess, their isn't a fear but it simply isn't a priority. I respect the administrators and know they are extremely busy. A more detailed dress code isn't going to change that.
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Seriously, is Mr. Laue going to find time to walk room to room measuring skirts and checking for collars? I HOPE NOT! He is a great principal because he is focused on STUDENT LEARNING not staff wearing jeans, skirts, collars, etc...
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If their is an obvious problem it should be addressed but this isn't a problem that needs to be addressed.
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Reminds me of the voter ID law, NOT NEEDED only done to insult a portion of the public. Dress code, not needed, only done to insult a portion of the public educators.

School Board once again dragging every process of the handbook through the media. Poor management.

It only takes a few bad apples to spoil the entire bunch. The reason this is happening is because of a minority of employees who can't seem to get their act together. The group as a whole can't seem to police themselves and we are certainly not going to see the union take any kind of a lead to make it's membership be more responsible. Although they always seem to be happy to encourage, defend, or at least be complicit in that small minority being irresponsible. The result is the leadership actually has to step in and provide rules and guidance. Imagine that!

I've always thought it was kind of ceepy when a teacher dresses promiscuously for the students. A dress code has always been needed, but some teachers seem to have some kind of a strange need to tease the students.

That is correct. This article is 'out there' under two titles - this one has the word "Tuesday" in it's title. The other article will be buried later, if the comments of this one are more acceptable to the staff.

schnibble - it's wrongfully called 'the freedom of the press'. If Frank or the gazette don't like the comments, they re-title the article and reprint it.

Oh no - the teachers might have to dress responsibly - better get the union to stop that attempt.

Parr also said he wants to give Superintendent Karen Schulte a chance to respond to a formal statement from the union. Schulte is in China with school board member Kristin Hesselbacher. The pair are seeking a school with which to form a partnership. They are expected to return Thursday.

Who Paid for this "Vacation"!

No one objects to a reasonable dress code policy but this policy just gets too specific. I have never heard of a dress code that specifically mentions what kind of neckline a shirt must have (this one specifies a collared-neck). I bet if you walk into the professional atmosphere of a bank, law firm, or accounting firm, you'll see a variety of necklines that are all deemed professionally appropriate. Dr. Sperry says he wants the expectations clear - with "no guesswork" well, "skirts of modest length" is about as clear as mud. Should those skirts be knee length? Two inches above the knee? Fingertip length? There's more work to be done on this policy before it is reasonable.