Henrico School Board adopts employee dress code

If a teacher's nose ring causes a substantial disruption to the learning environment, it won't be allowed in Henrico County schools next year.

Otherwise, it's OK under the professional-attire expectations approved last night by the Henrico School Board.

A draft of the employee dress code had banned "distracting" facial, lip and tongue jewelry. Looking for a better description of what's not allowed, School Board members consulted with staff attorney Melissa K. Velazquez, who suggested "substantial disruption" as a phrase that's been upheld in court cases.

The board adopted the dress code unanimously.

The adopted policy also notes that the regulations are not intended to prohibit special attire for special events such as school celebrations, thematic instructional activities, and spirit days or casual work days.

School administrators also are expected to consider employee safety and medical conditions and be sensitive to religious exemptions in determining allowable attire.

In other business, the board awarded a $5.48 million construction contract to Kenbridge Construction for a 12-classroom addition to Varina Elementary School.

The board also looked carefully at its list of capital improvement projects expected to get funds through the final bond issue approved in the 2005 bond referendum. County officials asked the school board to rank projects in order of importance, but the board was reluctant to choose whether Varina High School or Brookland Middle School should go at the top of the list.

School Board Chairman John Montgomery Jr. said the choice would be meaningful when the board knew how much money was available. Otherwise he called it an "exercise in brutality. . . .

"We know that the 2005 bond money is going to come in a lump. To ask us now to take something that's going to come in a lump but divide it up, I think it's unnecessary. Whenever the lump comes, we have to decide how to spend it."

The board asked central office administrators to provide more information on need for the various projects so that priorities could be set more easily when the time comes. County officials had asked for the ranking to be submitted by November.

Contact Katherine Calos at (804) 649-6433 or .