I wore a uniform while in high school. It promoted school unity; we all hated them. Our teachers were all in uniforms, too. They were nuns and wore habits. It would be nice if the school board actually started to support their teachers instead of thinking of them as either cash cows (parking/health insurance) or people unable to dress themselves in the morning. This district is losing fine teachers each year. This should not be the trend.

To the person who emailed me, you're welcome.

If 23,371 votes were cast by 12,489 people, then Ardrey got 54% of the people who voted, but 29% of the total votes cast. Because a voter can vote for 0, 1, 2, or 3 candidates, the math will never be the same from one election to the next.....it's not "just take it times 3" as Mr. Sodemann said. In this case, it's more like "take it times just less than 2".

I, too, would prefer a 1-on-1 vote, but as it is now, several come up for re-election at the same time, and I don't know how that could be modified. I'm not a fan of the current Board silliness either. They need to focus on education instead of power.

In this particular election there were approx 30,000 ballots cast in Rock county of which 12489 were cast in the Janesville School District. So tell me again where al of thes epercentages are derived from? an please tell me that a simple 1 vs 1 like they have in Beloit is not a better solution than this mess they have now. Not confusing to me, but Ill bet like Bill said a lot of folks dont knwo exactly what they are doing and dont fill it out right. This town needs an enima. And its not the current bunch of circus clowns we have now.

I am also curious that if the voting goes as you says it does thewn why are the percentages so flawed??
http://199.233.45.158/results04032012

I would also like to point out that on the very same page there are 2 beloit school board races that are 1 vs 1, CEAR choice races. Why not in Janesville?
Run on your message and get elected vs 1 other opponent. I would really like to know how we could change this here in Janesville, petition?

Again I understand that people have their own political ideology, and I also don't want schools to be a dumping ground for tax dollars. All that beiong said, I would like Bill Sodemann, Disteffano, and Arndt to take a week of their time and volunteer in a classroom in one of the poorer schools with ever changing demographics and challenges OUTSIDE teaching, andf then go back to the meetings with a perspective, and maybe we can get some problems solved, instead of talking about dress codes for teachers. Will female teachers be wearing Pants suits? Utter and complete nonsense.
I fyou want a better evaluatiuon system for teachers lets hear it. They are evaluated now by their principals(who are not a part of their union), Tthese are the people that understand the challenges they face. While so many who TALK about union hatred and no evaluation, they fail to see that anything different than what we have now WILL COST MORE MONEY.
What I believe these board members want is to be able to fire teachers basded on how uch they cost the district, not based on performance. They talk a good game , lest see them back it up with something a little bit more tan catch phrasese and slogans.

Missmary, my point is we should have clear choices and we simply do not. Having four people run for three seats is a mess. Bill is certainly etitled to his opinion and I mine.
The Janesville school district is certainly large enough to have 1 vs 1 elections for school board. I do not know how we could change that law but I certainly would advocate for it. Then we wouldn't get such clowns on the board!! I think Bill Sodemann has a political agenda on the school board, which like other positions in the public realm there is really no place for. What on Earth qualifies this man and many others to set policies for educating children? I know that we all seem to HATE the teachers unions anmd therefore that anger seems to transfer toi the teachers, but why should local businessmen like thes people be in charge of setting school policy like a DRESS CODE??
This silliness has to stop. I understand wanting to save local taxpayers a few bucks in tough times, I getit. What I don't understand is the shortsightedness of these individuals. A school system is an investment in future generations, the future of this nation. And YES that means making teaching an attractive career. What young bright teacher in his/her right mind would come to a town where the board is discussing charging teachers for parking and trying to enforce some kind of completely unecessary dress code? Thes people are nothing more than ideologues where there should be no room for them.
I get Bill standing up for his fellow board members, but had these people (Distefano, Arndt) run on ideas like these, the wouldn't sniff an elected post!! The methods for electing these positions are as ridiculous as the folks that seem to be slipping through. What chances would Bill have of re-election if he were to face one other candidate who is a clearly different choice? Having to win the majority here in Janesville? He would lose and he knows it!!

fear : Regardless of anyone's opinion of the current school board, what rocksolid is saying is that those 23,371 votes were cast by a third that many people (3 votes per person). So those 23,371 votes represent (approximately, assuming everyone voted for 3), 7,790 people. Of those, 6,762 voted for Ardrey. That's almost 87%.

I also see this as a pretense to what is to come, "Rocksolid" will get his dream, he will get all the cuts in salary and benefits he has wanted to put on teachers since , well forever. With the contract coming due at the end of the school year, and the travesty that is act 10, not only will teachers be looking at a larger contribution to their insurance, they will be looking at worse coverage for their money. GREAT ENVIRONMENT!!
Finally Bill you get to kick the teachers and keep them down. Any doubts? Search Bill sodeman on this website and you will not see a man that cares about education. You will see a man that cares about his checkbook and his political ideology.
The worst thing is, that Arndt and DiStefano seem to be even worse. Again, not really hard to get elected to a post in a city where you need 23-30% of the vote to get in, say your a fiscal conservative and like Mittens said" Youll get a certain part of the population that will vote for you no matter what.

"make your day?" Quite ironic that you quote a Cenile old fool like Clint Eastwood. I could say more but I have said enough.
Congrats RockSolid on holding out for your dream, just wish if you had political aspirations you would run for an office that you have to win a majority of the vote, and stay out of our school systems.

Now back to the issue at hand here which is the constatnt and absolute BLATANT insulting of the most important public employees in Janesville by members of this board. You don't like me calling you people idiots? STOP acting like them!!
This district has PROFITTED off of the teachers health Care for years. Now it seems that some people with ridiculous attitudes about their positions on the board want to talk about a dress code , as if we have a problem? is there a problem with teachers coming to school in ripped cloting? Stained clothing? Has there been some imaginary outcry from the people of the community?? This is nothing more than some ideological chest puffing by CONSERVATIVES that want to turn public schools into private schools.
Tell me why is this waste of time even being argued about? Is this what our school board full of bright intelligent people is reduced to? Talking about teachers paying for parking and dress codes? I see people playing politics against valued professionals, nothing more nothing less. Slapping them in the face at every turn with NO respect with the absolute NIGHTMARE it has turned into teaching in this district with poverty rising, and parental values on the decline. It seems that so many people want professionally dressed babysitters.

The 10% comment is regarding te Tea party portion of the vote you scare up, then comes the elderly folks who are scared about any increase in their property taxes and getting them raised even by a dollar. Not too difficult to get 25% of the vote with just those 2 demographics now is it?

That being said, from a guy who openly has complimented the governor and his tactics, and whom at every turn wants to find ways to cut teachers salary as much as possible, a man who wrote a cute little letter to the editor a few years back basically insulting teachers as somehow not liviing in the real world, you wonder why you have almost zero support from the educators in this town? I am aware that you could care less about their lives and families and how cuts would affect them, and are merely interested in sitting on the board to cut, cut, cut the education in this city essentially so you can be some conservative hero in this town? Because of all of the "fiscal responsibility" you and the board have led on by not increasing levies and losing state funding because of it have just created bigger holes financially than ever before.
Forget the FACT that largely because of savings realized by the self funded insurance in Janesville there is a quite LARGE BALANCE(20 million) in the Fund 10 account, which you are always reluctant to use.
You wonder why you have almost zero support from teachers in this district? First you have spent the better part of the last decade doing your best to suggest cuts in salary in benefits whenever given the chance. When the horrendous Act 10 was passed, you were at the paper, on the radio, on TV every chance you could get on some PR run trying desperately to get the teachers to open their settled contract that took nearly 2 years to negotiate!! I wonder how many of the people that have contracts at Phones Plus would get their contracts re-negotiated if they claimed fiscal calamity? My guess is .........NONE

Well "rocksolid" looks like your feathers are a little ruffled, as are those of the folks that edit this blog so I'lltread carefully here and bother you with some mathematical facts, or arithmatic, as president Clinton stated at the DNC.
Did I say 10% sure, 10 percent gives you as a fiscal "conservative" a nice base to start on to get elected, but since you would like me to elaborate I certainly can.
Lets start with I am of the belief of a clear cut choice in an election, not a big blur of four candidates for three seats. Its ridiculous. Janesville is a large enough city where we should be able to have more focused elections so we can avoid people like DiStefano, Arndt, and quite frankly you on the school board. In a largely BLUE(Democratic) city like Janesville is , getting 25% of the vote in an election and somehow getting that seat is absolutely SILLY!!
Case in POINT 23,371 votes cast:
Greg Ardrey 6762 votes 29%
DiStefano 6,028 votes 26%
Schilling 5,421 votes 23%

I also know that at no point have you garnered a much larger portion of the vote than 25-30% either. Yet you sit on the bopard as if you own the place. Some have forgotten Bill, but many have not that the teachers don't live "In your world". So spare me your self richeous , condescending remarks.

Rocksolid,
While I disagree with the name calling I completely agree with the anger regarding the board and your leadership.
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Perhaps this will be proven to be more about the gazette than school districts, but what does it say to you that your board is debating charging teachers to park and how best to dictate their clothing choices while Milton finds ways to get students and STAFF i-pads.
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please, defend the time spent discussing dress codes for staff.

I can't believe when over half of the schools are not even airconditioned that this is a major issue of the School Board. I strongly encourage all of you to work with no a/c in 90 to 80 degree weather. Oh and by the way...you want to cut their pay and then require them to buy different clothing? As for your opinions on how you feel...umm that is an OPINION not a fact.

Dear fear:

First of all, I want to thank you for all of your name calling and insults as insults coming from a source like you are considered a "badge of honor".

Second, you continue to fail to understand how school board elections work. If a person wins 20% of the vote when voters are choosing up to 3 (not 4 as you stated) candidates then that actually means that about 60& (the math is not perfect because not all voters select 3 candidates) of the people that voted included that candidate as one of their choices.

Therefore your claim that 10% (made up of tea party types) is enough to win this type of an election is nonsense. You have repeated this claim many times in the past but repeating a lie does not make it true. It also calls into question your basic math skills and understanding - and you are calling us "idiots"?

To repeat, to get a close estimate of what percentage of people voted for a candidate in a school board race, you can simply multiply their percentage by 3.

If you choose to continue to engage in name calling (I counted at least 10 in your last post), I have one response, "Go ahead - make my day".

glad to hear the gazette favors "allowing" female kindergarten teachers to wear "slacks" instead of skirts or dresses "if they spend part of their day on the floor with students". Ugh!

joker, Mitt wears jeans all the time on the campaign trail, good to know I shouldn't take him seriously or respect him... whew!!!!

Hey Janesville, it's OK.. if your not going to worry about educating your youth, at least they will have factory jobs to fall back on.... er, wait....... VOTE RYAN!!

Oh, and to the commentator who suggested to teachers to go elsewhere if this district was not enough, I did go elsewhere, specifically out of Wisconsin. Trust me, the grass is so green. SO, SO green. And I've heard that from almost all of the other teachers who left the year I did. It makes me sad to see that the attitude that drove me out still exists. The students deserve more.

As I read this article and watch these comments, my heart remains sad for a place where I started my teaching career. The group of teachers I worked with in Janesville was and is world class, and every conversation I engaged in with fellow educators revolved around the same topic - HOW can I reach and help my students more? As a group of professionals who cared more about their students than their own well-being, I am appalled that they are being treated this way. While I understand that dress codes happen in other professions (especially since I have worked in other professions), this group of professionals has been disrespected while they continue to hold their heads high and do the ABSOLUTE best they possibly can, day in and day out. I say this having seen several other districts and staff groups, both within and outside of Wisconsin. This is a low blow, bottom line. The fact of the matter is that all of the teachers while I was there (I've only been gone one year) dressed professionally and appropriate for their job duties. To suggest otherwise is a power play. These board members strive to create struggle and conflict between teachers and tax payers on a regular basis, and this is just another example. Work TOGETHER. Create TOGETHER. Educate TOGETHER. That way, everyone wins, especially the children. As a taxpayer still (since I own a home there still), I am disappointed to say the least.

Really all I have to say is, the majority of the members on the Janesville school board are a joke!!! Perhaps they should start charging teachers to wear jeans. Maybe Mr. Feldt or Mr. DiStefano should latch onto that idea while they are living in the real world. As long as nothing is hanging out or there aren't inappropriate sayings on their clothing leave it alone. Really?? Do these people lay awake at night trying to think up these ridiculous topics??

It's not really about having a dress code that most people are upset about. It's the callous, disrespectful, demeaning, harmful attitudes of the two board members and how they speak about teachers. They sound like fools.

Why? I'm a college educated professional working in a business atmosphere, and I do not get to decide the dress code. I don't just sit at a desk all day. Sometimes I get dirty, it happens. The vast majority of companies out there "treat professionals like children" according to your definition. Setting a dress code is common business practice. For the average employee, when you work for someone else, the company/owner/management make those decisions, not the employees. The rest of the world seems to be able to live with it. I really don't understand what the big deal is here. The teachers should get proactive, and step out in support of a business casual dress code (with obvious exceptions for specific classes). Why not offer to partner with the school board to come up with something everyone can live with? There are open forum opportunities at school board meetings, are you waiting to be asked, or just sitting around waiting for them to pass something so you can complain about it? As I said before, this would only really be a problem for anyone that wasn't dressing professionally to being with. Let the school administrators deal with the situations that warrant exceptions. I've got news for you, when someone pays you to show up and do a job (career, or not), it isn't about your personal freedom or expression. You get all the personal freedom and expression you want on your own time. The real irony of this situation is that throughout my education in the Janesville school district I can recall many times when a teacher told a student(s) to "do that on your own time" or not to be late and waste the teacher's time, etc. It was that education of respect for other people's time, and recognizing the difference between "my time" and "class time", etc. that makes me think this dress code thing isn't unreasonable. When you're on someone else's time, whether you're being paid or are required to be in class, certain expectations apply. One of those expectations is that usually other people make the rules. That was one of those things my Janesville education taught me (maybe one of the few things that actually prepared me for the adult world). The vast majority of the employees of the world don't get to make these decisions and we all survive just fine. Assuming the school board decided on a business casual dress code, I fail to see what the big deal is here.

In addition, WHAT A WASTE OF TIME... with all the different circumstances (PE, Art, SPED, elem., Alt Ed, HS, coaches, field trips, etc...)
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I simply trust my children's teachers to dress as professional educators and I also trust the BOARD HAS MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO WORRY ABOUT, some that might actually IMPACT LEARNING!

How about letting the PROFESSIONALS decided!?!?!
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I am happy to hear that... "I can tell you I feel better when I'm dressed up than when I'm in blue jeans or shorts," DiStefano said. "… I think most people would tell you their achievement is higher." but that does not, nor should it be forced, to apply to everyone.
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I have spent countless hours at a variety of SDJ schools and the need for this is minimal. Let the school administrators DO THEIR JOBS and address the issue with individuals. There is NO NEED to treat the PROFESSIONALS like children.
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The small minority that this applies to can be handled as individuals.
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Just more BIG BROTHER GOVERNMENT! Good Grief!

How about letting the PROFESSIONALS decided!?!?!
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I am happy to hear that... "I can tell you I feel better when I'm dressed up than when I'm in blue jeans or shorts," DiStefano said. "… I think most people would tell you their achievement is higher." but that does not, nor should it be forced, to apply to everyone.
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I have spent countless hours at a variety of SDJ schools and the need for this is minimal. Let the school administrators DO THEIR JOBS and address the issue with individuals. There is NO NEED to treat the PROFESSIONALS like children.
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The small minority that this applies to can be handled as individuals.
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Just more BIG BROTHER GOVERNMENT! Good Grief!

A couple comments.

First - I have no problem with dressing professionally for teachers. For a PE teacher that may mean gym clothes. For a shop teacher - certainly no ties. It may mean jeans for some elementary teachers who are on their knees all days. One size does not fit all here, and something as shortsighted as is being proposed here is...well..shortsighted.

Second - Any assertion that better dress by teachers influences student performance is obviously made up. With Mr. DiStafno's attitude, it should be the students dressing up, not the teachers.

Finally - the Board should be talking WITH the teachers instead of ABOUT the teachers.

Thank you for your kind attention. You may now return to your regularly scheduled rant.

It is a shame it is even an issue. If there weren't problems, the Board would not even be addressing the issue. Many teachers do dress professionally (business casual). However, others don't even know what that means.

li713 Sep 20, 2012 at 11:20 a.m.
Great post! I agree 100%

So when teachers want fair pay for being a professional they are accused of being lazy and over paid babysitters. When the school board talks about having a dress code, every body on the site now says they are professionals and should dress the part. So which is it Janesville? By the way, Janesville has to have the worst school board in Wisconsin right?

According to many posters on this article- people of Janesville look down on teachers and give them no credit for making professional decisions about their clothing on their own. Again, this really is a non-issue. Think bigger school board members.

Let's put this STUPID argument to rest. If the school board wants the teachers to have a dress code, put it into the handbook. That's NOT a bad thing to have a guide. I believe that building principals will be flexible on special dress days, but if the school board wants it, the handbook should reflect that. End of discussion!!

....and by the way, I know a few private school teachers, and they certainly have a dress code (and make WAY less money than a lot of the Janesville public school teachers). Somehow they manage to deal with all of the happenings in a school without it killing them. I really don't understand why this is such a big deal.

I've never worked a white collar job as an adult that didn't have some kind of dress code. I don't understand what the big deal is about this. Business casual is the generally accepted standard these days. Kahkis and polos is not too much to ask for the average teacher in a classroom all day. When I was in school, that was the way teachers dressed. As I got older (high school) and teachers got younger there were definitely more jeans and sneakers. Quite frankly I think this business casual is the way to go. The school board should reach out to some local businesses and ask if they are willing to provide their dress codes as examples. There is no reason they should start requiring jackets and ties, but business casual will only be a problem for the teachers that aren't dressing appropriately professional to begin with. Of course there is never going to be a way to write a standard for every single situation, but there also isn't in the business world. In business, management deals with those situations as they arise. Considering our school system is filled with HIGHLY educated professionals, working this out shouldn't be hard. Quite frankly I'm surprised it's even an issue.

Wow expecting professionals to dress professionally is a big controversy? Setting an example to the young people that you dress and act a certain way in the workplace is a bad thing? I think you people are so biased against the board that you just automatically discount anything they discuss as bad. The likely scenario that brought this up was that a principal approached someone wearing flip flops and jeans about dressing more appropriately, and was told to "go to hell, that there is no written dress code in place or in their contract and they will dress how they please until there is. If there is a problem with that, get my union rep." My guess would be that the minority slob who feels they should be able to dress how they want are the ones who threw a fit and brought this issue to a head.

Case in point...children when spend more time with their teachers (as a collective whole) than they will with any adult role model including their parents. Will it affect teaching, probably not. Will it affect students ability to learn, probably not. There are a few obvious destractions suck as short skirts, lowcut blouses, tight shirts, etc... but for the most part, it's not the teaching or learning thats effected. What they are subconsiously implaniting in students minds is that it is ok to express yourself thru dress...and that there are no negative consequences. This is great thru highschool..even college. Then it comes time to enter the real world where most want to secure a white collor "gravy job" that pays upwards of 6 figures. Awesome goal, but try doing that showing up to interview with jeans and a t-shirt...even Walmart wrinkled Kahkis and a polo won't cut it.

WHY does this Board continue to harrass the teaching staff in Janesville? Have they NOTHING better to work on? I'd like to see every Board member in their suits and ties, dresses and heals out on the playground in -40° weather, snow/rain/ice or 100+° weather, or running down the hall or up stairs to catch a student that forgot their book, or possibly dealing with an issue happening in the hallway. I also think that maybe this Board should be REQUIRED to spend a week in the classroom setting of each level (elementary, middle and high) to see what "really" goes on in the "real" world of teaching. Sitting behind a desk at your job, does not remotely compare to what teachers deal with on a daily basis. Clothes DO NOT the teacher make! Administrators can deal with their staff if they feel that atire is inappropriate. This Board NEEDS to work on REAL issues!

It only takes one young teacher who dresses bad to spoil it for everyone. Seriously, those teachers who dress the part should not be offended if there is a dress code.

Teachers are not students! Teachers should dress in what is comfortable and presentable. The attire should be appropriate to what is happening that day in the classroom. Teachers should not have to be told how to dress because it would seem teachers KNOW HOW TO DRESS and would like to present themselves in the professional manner they trained for. Rather we like it or not people react to our appearance. And rather we like it or not, we are judged on appearance.

School Boards have long been used as a political stepping stone. Some of these clowns just want to move on to state representative etc and mess with taxpayer money in the statehouse.

Which ones want a career in politics? It's usually the one begging for attention with comments. Just look at Feldts grandstanding. I spy a politician.

Teachers and staff should present a professional appearance. I don't think they need to wear suits and ties or dresses; but I do think they should wear dress pants, blouses or button up shirts, sweaters, appropriate footwear (no flip flops). Business casual would be the best option. Maybe have casual day on Friday.

Mandatory. Beautiful.

At my voucher schools, Tri-cornered hats will be manadatory attire. Beautiful.

The level of incompetence on this school board amazes me. The mere fact that you wasted time discussing dress code rather than focusing on greater issues that face our children, demonstrates the clear agenda of a few of the members on this board. I think it's time to either move or open enroll the children to another district. The leadership on the board leaves a lot to be desired.

"And God forbid that rules are imposed on people that they may not agree with," Feldt said. "Welcome to the real world." Seriously??? That attitude does not belong on the School Board. Feldt, you owe this district a huge apology.

Feldt and DiStephano sound like they follow the "big me little you" philosophy of leadership as their Board position has gone to their head.

In my "real world", I'm a little more concerned about the school budget, and why on earth there is no longer a Health class offered at the high school level in this age of childhood obesity and rising STDs. Let's have the Board address the "real world" issues of budget and curriculum, and allow the teachers to dress themselves without your input.

I wonder what Quint Studer would say about this... Sounds pretty "we" "they" to me.

If you want respect dress and act like you deserve respect.

It seems to me that someone is making an issue where there is absolutely no issue.I have yet to see in 35 years in dealing with educational staff, as a parent, a teacher whose choice of apparel bothered me. I see this as a slap in the face to teachers. Move on school board and stop trying to debase the teachers.

another reason to pull in the best and brightest... who would want to teach in this town?

Sooo again with the same old discussion of uniforms? How bored we must be to have to have this conversation yet again.

First, I would think being a "professional" you would want to look and carry yourself as a "professional" Second, It would be nice to be able to tell apart teachers from the students (besides age) Third, This should be a non issue but the fact its brought up and reported on there must be a slight problem. my son is only 4 but I've been to the district office and a school to vote. I personally haven't seen a "sloppy" looking teacher.so is this just a few bad apples? Shouldn't there direct supervisor pull them aside for a talk? Why are teachers as group being told what to wear? shorts, Jeans, Skirts can look "dressed up" if there the rite type and worn correctly.

The School District of Beloit instituted a dress code on it's teachers/staff for this school year. Lots of colored denim was purchased by the staff :) Here is a link to the dress code:

http://www.sdb.k12.wi.us/boardpolicy/500...

Feldt's smart-mouth comments are condescending and unnecessary; I certainly wouldn't want to work with him or be one of his kids!

Skinnypuppy nailed it right on the head. Well stated and right on.

I'm sick of reading quotes from boardmember Feldt. Stop treating teachers like they are in some other world and start talking to toward them with respect. The "Welcome to the real world." quote/bullscat is getting old. You make it out to seem like teachers are in some fantasy world full of luxury. Most of the teachers I know work hard to make ends meet and many hold more than one job.

Really - This is a priority for the School Board? Please use your time as a School Board member to work on what is truly important and quit nit-picking the teachers. My goodness - do those two men have nothing better to do that create an even worse morale for the teachers.

You tell 'em BadgerFan1, they need to leave our hard working, PROFESSIONAL, teachers alone and let them teach, my kids have GREAT teachers!

NVgrf- that explains soooo much, the golf team! haha! Now I get it!!!! Thanks for the visual!

dtb-I work in the schools almost daily IN Janesville, so I'm not talking out of my arse here like some people. Not sure if you didn't notice, but this article is about Janesville, not the other schools that you go into, so no offense, but I don't really care what those teachers look like. I have worked in many schools over the years, and very rarely do I see teachers dressed as slobs, even on dress down Fridays.

Dave, you always were a snappy dresser for the Cougar golf team. But it didn't add up to wins against Parker.

sorry for the typos but really on the gazette blog who cares its not like this is some big forum....again....teachers need to look like professionals...not like they are hanging out at a back yard bbq

Lol, students have a very loose dress code, you should watch when they all come out of school, too funny. Once again mountains out of mole hills. Make sure the dress code addresses clothing that is to short or tight and make sure necklines are ample, one teacher my daughter had was a very trendy dresser, but every time she bent over, well the boys enjoyed the show! But she NEVER wore jeans or flip-flops. Just put everyone in white jumpsuits haha!!!

Just make the dress code as lenient for staff as it is for students...I see more inappropriately dressed young people on their way to (I presume high school but maybe middle school) school baring almost as much flesh as I would see at a beach. I'm sorry; there just does not appear to be a very strict dress code for the kids, so how ridiculous to start talking about one for the adults. Be an administrator..if someone is too casaul, call that person in and deal with it. No need to torment 80% of the staff b/c someone in charge doesn't have the guts to deal with his/her staff members' attire.

Mr. DiStefano seems like he's a just bully. "Welcome to the real world"? What a rude line to say to the teachers. I don't understand why some people think "If students need a dress code, teachers too". "Students" are kids. They need to be told a lot of things of course. But teachers ARE educated, independent ADULTS who is living in "the real world". They work, they pay mortgage, they raise children, they pay tax and they take care of their old parents. I'd like Mr. DiStefano to explain why he thinks teachers are not living in the real world. Mr. DiStefano has many other important issues to solve before he worries about what teachers wear!!

hdonlybob

I agree with your comment.

Badgerfan, I'm in and out of a lot of schools (not in j-ville) and see a lot of teachers (not all but many) dressed in jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes, sweat shirts, etc. and they do look like slobs.

No Brainer....kids have a dress code, and teachers should too.

I care more about HOW a teacher ACTS, than how they dress. You can be just as proffessional in jeans and a nice polo/sweater etc. as you can be in dress attire. I have never had an issue with the way my children's teachers have dressed, as long as they looked clean and well groomed. I have however noticed other people in different professions with wrinkled/stained business attire. I have several doctors also, some wear dockers and polos, some even wear scrubs, and others yet might wear a shirt and tie, guess what, they are all great and I wouldn't trade any of them. Now the overweight insurance agent with b.o. and stains on his shirt, dirty fingernails.... think I might get rid of him! The things the School Board and City worry about make me laugh, good thing we don't have any REAL issues to deal with!!!

"Welcome to the real world"? Really? You don't think that working with high school age kids for 15 years and raising my own family on the side has allowed me to see even a glimpse of the "real world"? Thank you for belittling me once again, Mr. Feldt. If you want me to appear as a "professional" (which I do every day, by the way, as I believe in appropriate dress at work), please don't treat me as though I am some clueless, out-of-touch entity.

Some teachers wear jeans on Fridays if their principal allows it, however they do not wear jeans and t-shirts on regular occasions. Just because there isn't a set dress code, doesn't mean teachers dress like slobs, it just means there's no set rules.

The next steps:
Tell me what color to write in, how to grade my papers, if I can or cannot wear nail polish, how to stoke the fire and fill the water pails, when my curfew is, you know, 1896 rules. I do understand the thought of a uniform as I agree some people need to consider their attire before leaving for work in the morning. Flip-flops are at not time appropriate to wear. Jeans and a school T-shirt sometimes are appropriate. The problem is that most of the PROFESSION adheres to the rules and conducts themselves in a manner than upholds the profession. Some do not, as in any area. The public takes those few and runs with it. People need to remember that like lawyers, doctors, accountants, etc.; teaching is a profession and career, not "just a job." It should be regulated and treated as such. Do you walk into the county defense attorney's office and tell them what to wear? No. Then again you won't find them in flip-flops because they are, and have always been, treated like a respected professional.

Feldt should step into the REAL WORLD in the classroom once and see what the REAL WORLD is all about. What a piece of work. He wouldn't last a day.

Your kidding right?The staff is made up of adults.Come on Janesville School Board.We elect you to do a job for the betterment of the kids.Not make policy for our adult teachers(Key word ADULT)dress code.It is just a crazy trying to charge them to park.I know you people have better things to work on..

I'm not sure when it became acceptable for teachers to wear jeans and t shirts. If you want to be treated as a professional, then dress like one. I think a formal dress code may be going too far but I'm fine with business casual as a general rule for teachers.

Teachers are important role models for students. Their appearance should matter to them, first and foremost. This is something that needs to be addressed in Milton, too. Of course, the Board would first have to require that the superintendent dress in a professional manner.

First, let me say that if someone wants to critique how the school staff looks, perhaps they should spell check before they post. Second, isn't DiStefano the same member with the idea that staff should pay for parking? He sure is a popular guy I'd bet. Next, the dress code for students is pretty much common sense, be covered and don't have drugs, guns, cursing etc. on clothing. Oh and nobody wants to see your underwear. Now as far as teachers go, I see no problem with jeans as long as they are clean and not shredded. Flip flops, really, this is an issue? Better ban all open toe shoes too. Ties, give me a break, this is school not an Attorney's office, suit jackets? See last comment. I think the people who feel the need to dictate what is being worn by school staff should spend a few days doing the job before they try to impose rules that have no bearing on one's ability to teach. Leave the dress code in a building up to the principal of that building, he or she is in the best position to know what is correct for the staff there. BTW think about Special Education Staff, suit coats, ties and dresses would be really great for them, hey ladies pull out the pumps and pearls! We are trending back to the '50's! Don't even get me started on hair and jewelry. Some people have too much time if this is an issue. Gotta Love Janesville!!!

I thought the School Board had bigger problems to solve than what teachers can wear to school.

i say put them in uniforms...corparate America is in quite a few cases it takes the thought out of it and makes the playing field equal...if you give a consession for one then others feel slighted...or come up with reasons why they can not adhear...uniforms show consistance and equality and do not take gender or race into any account as they do not have to...a dark jacket and slacks and a nice shirt levels the field for all, and Im sorry yes you can get on the floor with it....I wear a suit all the time and i get around just fine and in summer when its hot you can take the jacket off...right now some teachers dress very nice...others are complete pigs and have zero respect for the way they look...a unified look promotes consistancy and allows students to ficus on work not wardrobe...its work...not a fassion show