Virtual Learning Parents, you may still drop by to pick up binders and planners for your students. We will have additional supplies available to you later this week.

The key changes are:

Changes:
- Pants of any solid color may now be worn
- Athletic pants and shorts with stripes may now be worn

Below is the entire policy.

STUDENT DRESS CODE AND APPEARANCE Policy Code: 4316

The board requests that parents outfit their children in clothing that is conducive to learning.

The board prohibits any appearance or clothing that does the following:

(1) violates the guidelines in this policy;

(2) is substantially disruptive (for information on gang-related attire, see policy 4328, Gang-Related Activity);

(3) is provocative or obscene; or

(4) endangers the health or safety of the student or others. Student appearance should reflect practices of good hygiene and cleanliness.

A. STUDENT DRESS CODE

Students are expected to be dressed in accordance with this policy at all times school is in session. The principal or designee shall implement this policy in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate.

Good judgment in considering issues such as age, developmental stages, and body type are expected of all students and parents in the selection of school attire and appearance. Each student’s school attire must be neat, clean, properly fitted, age-appropriate, and suitable for the learning environment. Schools may not charge students for wearing clothing approved below.

1. Shirts and Tops

a. Shirts and tops must have a collar and be a solid color.

b. With the exception of manufacturer’s logos or school-approved logos, shirts and tops may not display any insignias, logos, labels, graphics, embroidery, words, or pictures.

c. Shirts and tops must be appropriately sized and long enough to cover

the midriff when sitting or standing and must also cover the chest and

back so the chest and the back of the body are not exposed.

2. Bottoms, Jumpers, Dresses, Pants, Capris, Shorts, Skorts, and Skirts

a. Bottoms and dresses must be a solid color.

b. Dresses must have a collar and sleeves.

c. Denim bottoms must be a solid color with no holes or cuts.

d. With the exception of manufacturer’s logos or school-approved logos, bottoms and dresses must be free of graphics and embroidery and may not display any insignias, logos, labels, words, or pictures. Students may also wear solid colored athletic pants or shorts with solid colored contrasting stripes or piping running vertically on the outseams.

e. Dresses, shorts, skorts, skirts, and jumpers must be modest and of sufficient length.

The length of these articles of clothing may not be above the student’s fingertips when

the student’s arms are relaxed at his or her sides.

f. Bottoms must be appropriately sized. No baggy or sagging pants or shorts are allowed.

No “low rise” clothing is allowed. Pants and shorts must be worn with the waistband at or above the hipbone.

g. Footed tights may be worn under pants, capris, shorts, skorts, skirts, dresses, or jumpers. No fishnet stockings are allowed.

h. If belts are worn, they must not be oversized and must be buckled.

3. Shoes

a. Shoes must be worn at all times and must conform to requirements for specific classes or activities as necessary, such as P.E. classes, ROTC, science labs, etc.

b. If the shoes have laces, the shoes must be laced and tied.

c. No bedroom slippers are allowed.

4. Outerwear

a. Students may wear solid colored sweatshirts, sweaters, pullovers, hoodies, and vests, including lightweight fleece pullovers, over school attire but with the exception of manufacturer’s logos or school-approved logos, may not display any insignias, logos, labels, words, graphics, embroidery, or pictures.

b. Hoodies and hooded jackets may not have the hood covering the head

while in a school building. Violation of this requirement may result in

not being allowed to wear a hoodie at school.

c. Jackets and coats may be of a solid color or print; however, no graphics or wording other than a manufactured insignia or logo is permitted.

5. Spirit Wear and School Club Wear

In order to promote school and community spirit, principals at their discretion

will have the authority to approve school spirit wear and school club wear to be worn on any school day. This includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, fleece jackets, and hoodies.

6. Other Clothing Items or Accessories

a. Clothing must be worn as intended.

b. Undergarments may not be visible at any time. Underneath the collared

shirts, students may wear t-shirts or camisoles which are solid in color.

No see-through or mesh clothing that will reveal the body or will reveal

undergarments are allowed.

c. Students may not wear large pendants or medallions. No adornment is allowed that reasonably could be perceived or used as a weapon (such as chains, spikes, etc.).

d. No gang-related clothing, accessories, symbols, or intimidating

manner of dress are allowed (see policy 4328, Gang-Related Activity).

No headwear and no sunglasses may be worn inside school buildings.

No bandanas are allowed.

e. Solid color, patterned, or striped ties may be worn. They may not have any insignias, logos, labels, words, or pictures.

f. Only school activity buttons, approved by the principal are permitted to be worn on a student’s school clothing.

B. EXCEPTIONS TO DRESS AND APPEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

1. Religious or Medical Waivers

Reasonable consideration will be made for those students who, because of sincerely held religious beliefs or medical reasons, request a waiver of a particular requirement for dress or appearance. Written waiver requests must be submitted on an annual basis. In considering a waiver request, the principal or designee has the right to request additional documentation from medical officials and/or religious leaders.

2. Special Activity Accommodations

The principal shall make reasonable accommodations for students involved in special duties, activities, or projects approved by the school. Such special duties, activities, and projects include, but are not be limited to, athletics, P.E. classes, and other activities that require non-conforming dress on a school campus during the school day. Students who are taking classes that require a special dress code (such as JROTC or career and technical education internships) may wear that clothing to other classes.

3. Principal Exceptions

Any exception from these requirements that a Principal wants to implement during any school year must be presented to and approved by the Board of Education before the start of any school year.

C. ENFORCEMENT

Each principal shall ensure that this policy is enforced in a manner that is consistent with other Pitt County schools and consistently applied within their school. Before receiving disciplinary consequences, a student who is not in compliance with this policy will be given the opportunity within a reasonable period of time to change into acceptable clothing by using available clothes at school or by calling a parent to bring acceptable clothes. Disciplinary consequences for a student who fails to comply after being offered this opportunity will be consistent with Section D of policy 4300, Student Behavior Policies. The superintendent or designee shall list in the Code of Student Conduct the specific range of consequences that may be imposed on a student for violation of the dress code.

Students new to the school system will be given up to one-week grace period from enrollment to obtain and wear the proper school attire.

Legal References: G.S. 115C-47, -390.2

Cross References: Student Behavior Policies (policy 4300), School Plan for Management of Student Behavior (policy 4302), Disruptive Behavior (policy 4315), Gang-Related Activity (policy 4328)

Adopted: August 1, 2016

Revised: June 5, 2017

Revised: May 5, 2018

Revised: May 24, 2018 (technical corrections only)

Revised: August 3, 2020

PROCEDURE 4316/5020/7340-P

ADOPTED:

August 6, 2020

REVISED:

RULES REGARDING FACE MASK WEARING IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, emergency measures are required in response. In consideration of the recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the requirements issued by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the superintendent is adopting this emergency procedure for all students, visitors, and employees.

I. Students

A. Requirement to Wear Masks

Until further notice, all kindergarten through 12th grade students shall be required to wear a face mask (a) while attending school or a school function in any school building, facility, or other area of a school campus, including outside, (b) when riding on school buses or other school transportation vehicles, and (c) when waiting at bus or other school transportation stops. All face masks must cover the nose and mouth of the student. Students shall wear masks and face coverings at all times except for the following:

1. The student is actively eating or drinking;

2. The student is engaged in strenuous physical activity and able to maintain 6 feet of distance from other people;

3. The student has difficulty breathing or otherwise cannot tolerate a face mask due to a developmental, medical, or behavioral health need as evidenced by documentation from a healthcare provider;

4. The student is unconscious; or

5. The student is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Documentation from a healthcare provider necessary to establish an exemption under Section (I)(A)(3) must specifically state that the student is not able to wear a mask and further opine that the healthcare provider has discussed the ramifications of not wearing a mask with the student’s parent and that both believe that it will be safe for the student to attend school without wearing a mask.

B. Consequences for Violating the Requirement

Students who do not meet the requirements of section (I)(A)(3) of this procedure and who refuse to wear a face mask in all instances shall be referred for fully online instruction after a conference with the students’ parents or guardians. Students who temporarily remove their masks (i.e. full removal from the face, uncovering their nose, or uncovering their mouths) in violation of this policy shall receive consequences as follows:

1. For a first time offense, the student shall receive counseling on the importance of mask wearing.

2. For a second offense, the teacher or principal shall conduct a parent-teacher conference.

3. For a third offense, the student will receive a disciplinary consequence in accordance with the Code of Conduct and/or policy 4316.

4. For a fourth offense, the student will be referred for full time online instruction.

Principals have discretion to impose a higher level consequence for an earlier offense based on the severity of the incident and the age of the student.

II. Visitors

Individuals holding safety sensitive positions are prohibited from engaging in conduct prohibited by Pitt County Board of Education Policy 7240, Procedure 7240-P, and from

A. Requirement to Wear Masks

Until further notice, all visitors, except for children under the age of 2, shall be required to wear a face mask while present in any school building, facility, or other area of a school campus, including outside. All face masks must cover the nose and mouth of the visitor.

B. Consequences for Violating the Requirement

Visitors who violate this requirement shall not be permitted to be on the premises of the school building, facility, or other area of a school campus, including outside.

III. Employees

A. Requirement to Wear Masks

Until further notice, all employees, including Pre-K staff, shall be required to wear a face mask while working or attending a school function in any school building, facility, or other area of a school campus, including outside, and when operating a school bus or other school transportation vehicles. All face masks must cover the nose and mouth of the employee.

Employees shall wear masks and face coverings at all times except for the following:

1. The employee is working in a classroom, office, or other enclosed space and no other person is present;

2. The employee is actively eating or drinking;

3. The employee is engaged in strenuous physical activity and able to maintain 6 feet of distance from other people;

4. The employee has a documented medical condition, has submitted a request for an exemption from this policy to the human resources department, and the human resources department has approved the request;

5. The employee is unconscious; or

6. The employee is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

B. Consequences for Violating the Requirement

Employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

IV. Contractors

A. Requirement to Wear Masks

Until further notice, all contractors, including Pre-K contractors, shall be required to wear a face mask while working or attending a school function in any school building, facility, or other area of a school campus, including outside, and when operating a school bus or other school transportation vehicles. All face masks must cover the nose and mouth of the contractor.

Contractors shall wear masks and face coverings at all times except for the following:

1. The contractor is working in a classroom, office, or other enclosed space and no other person is present;

2. The contractor is actively eating or drinking;

3. The contractor is engaged in strenuous physical activity and able to maintain 6 feet of distance from other people;

4. The contractor is unconscious; or

5. The contractor is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

B. Consequences for Violating the Requirement

Contractors who violate this policy will be subject to termination of contracts/ agreements, restricted from school property, and/or subject to other consequences as appropriate.

V. Permitted Face Masks

A face mask is any face covering that covers the nose and mouth which can be secured to the head with ties or straps or wrapped around the lower face. Ideally, a face mask is two or more layers. The state of North Carolina will supply students and staff with five reusable cloth face masks.

To meet the requirements of this policy, students and employees may wear the state supplied face masks, disposable masks, clear plastic masks, or cloth masks that are solid colored, spirit wear, or have a small repeating pattern. Visitors and contractors may wear disposable masks, clear plastic masks, or reusable cloth masks that are solid colored, spirit wear, or have a small repeating pattern. Masks should not have lewd or obscene images and should not display any insignias or words. Photographic examples of permitted face masks are depicted below.

The board will also permit students, visitors, employees, and contractors to wear solid colored “ear saver” straps which fit across the back of the head or headbands.

VI. Face Shields

Plastic face shields that wrap around the wearer’s face and extend below the chin may protect a wearer from respiratory droplets spread by others. Unlike with face coverings, it is not known if face shields provide any benefit in controlling the spread of respiratory droplets to others. The CDC does not currently recommend a face shield as a replacement for a face mask. However, employees and students who qualify for an exception under section (I)(A)(3) or III(A)(3) of this procedure may wear a plastic face shield as a substitute for a face mask.

Email: infoamsknight@gmail.com
Website: https://www.pitt.k12.nc.us/ams
Location: 192 3rd Street, Ayden, NC, USA
Phone: 252-746-3672
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amsknights/
Twitter: @middleayden