Raymond staff given more authority to enforce dress code

With a new school year underway, administrators and staff at Raymond School will be working under a revised set of dress code guidelines.

The School Board of the Town of Raymond-based, K-8 district on Aug. 18 voted to amend an existing dress code. New language has been added to give district employees more authority in carrying out the policy.

The new language states: “If, in the judgment of the administration, the student’s appearance is distracting, disruptive or a safety concern, the student will be asked to change. Parents will be called for those students who do not cooperate.”

District Administrator Joe Dawidziak said he considered the policy change minor, but necessary.

All of the existing provisions in Raymond School’s policy remain the same, including the types of clothing considered offensive.

As has been the case in prior years, school employees could ask a student to change clothing if it includes phrases containing double meanings, obscenities, sexually explicit phrases, gang related imagery and utterances promoting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence and discrimination.

The policy also bans so-called revealing clothing, as defined by length, tightness, looseness and material. The policy prohibits students from wearing any clothing articles with bare midriffs or shoulders, exposed undergarments, see-through materials, oversized armholes and short skirts.

While the number of student violations each year is relatively low, Dawidziak and board members said they wanted to continue refining the policy so the district can continue promoting a positive learning environment.

Also, at the recent board meeting, Dawidziak discussed enrollment with elected officials. This school year, he said, Raymond School is on track with past trends. At the beginning of the school year, Raymond had nearly 430 students.

The district will take a formal tally of all students enrolled Friday, Sept. 19. The number will be reported to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and will be used to determine how much money Raymond will receive in state aid – the district’s second largest source of income behind property taxes.