001Call the special meeting of Victorian Board of Education at 5:30 p.m. Look at us starting on time. Alan, you may call the role when you are ready. >> Mr. Ber >> here, Miss Conway here. Mr. Corey, >> Mr. Cronin here. >> Mr. Fred >> here. >> Mr. Eo is excused. Miss Honer here. Mr. Kisco >> here. >> Mr. Knight here. >> Mr. Putnham here. Mayor Carbon representative >> Dr. Baker >> excused >> Miss Ferguson >> here. Miss Lavyby >> here. >> Mr. Pagolo >> excused. >> Miss Schulty >> here. >> Miss Vian >> excused. >> Mr. Wilson >> here. >> Thank you. Um so we'll dive right in. We have item three discussion and possible action on the staff dress code policy. Um, everyone's got in front of them uh a draft. Um, you would
002notice a couple of highlighted sections um where uh there are some proposals for uh modest changes that um we would like to discuss this evening. Um should I just dive right into them or whoever wrote them down to you? >> Well, I could tear it up and assume you could share. So I think um at the last meeting I think it was very productive. I think um a lot of voices and opinions were heard and I think that the subcommittee did a really good job listening to everyone uh at the table and then using that document that was really there for uh an outline that evening uh per se but also as a really good starting point and I think that was exactly what was in front of everyone. And I think Kristen captured everyone's
003ideas and thoughts that evening and then she made some edits capturing everyone's ideas and they were very minor as everyone can see on the board this evening. There's I think only three or four edits um that were there. Uh and then Sue and Kim had discussed after seeing those edits had discussed some other items that we'd like to comment on this evening for the board to consider. And then after hearing that, the board would have a really good template moving forward that we would then um obviously ask the board to take a look at and move forward pending the final approval from without jumping the gun too much. I'll turn it to Kristen and she could explain her edits and then Sue and Kim could explain theirs. >> Okay. Um so yeah, the majority of
004of these I really didn't uh change too much. Um there was I know there was some question about the color of the wash of the jeans. Um I'm I put in here that light wash shall be permitted um provided there are no rips or tears. Um just cuz I don't feel like that's a reasonable expectation. Um I think a dark wash jean is more of a uh generational expectation. Um so that was one of the first things that I put in there. Um, I did put that sneakers shall be permitted provided they professional. Um, one thing I did, um, that's the next page in a minute. Um, sweatshirts and t-shirts shall be permitted provided they promote school sphere or educational purposes. There is a sentence in there that I'll let Sue discuss. Um, in terms
005of the the leggings may be worn um, as long as the top covers the entire buttocks. Um the the two inches above the knee I think um needs to be removed. Um covering the buttocks is sufficient. Um mainly because I think we're looking at a top with like possibly tights underneath is what that might be related to. Um where if you're wearing leggings, it's not an undergarment. It's not a see-through garment. Um so I think 2 in above the knee is a little um over the top. So those are my suggestions. Um Um >> I think the reasonable >> yeah let's hear about everything that's new and then we can dive into it. >> So the the statement that Kristen just said she would let us address is under number six where there was some
006concern I think you'll recall from the last time we were together there was some confusion about what a graphic t-shirt really is. um the intention was never to uh prohibit, you know, spirit wear, that type of thing. So, in talking with um a teacher, uh we came up with this suggestion. Clothing with graphics, slogans, or logos must be appropriate for a school setting. Graphic TE's or sweatshirts directly related to an employees role with TPS, such as school branded apparel or items connected to curriculum and school programs are familiar. just to clarify the language so that there was a clear understanding. Um the other suggestion that we would offer is aligns with the uh the graphic te hoodie. Would the board want to consider perhaps limiting that to a couple of days a week? Um we
007did some research and looked around. Other districts do that where there's a day during the week designated for a spirit day district like the state also have typically a Friday which and we used to do this here in Torington a donation day Friday which was also a casual dress day and then a charity benefited from that. So just something to throw out there for your board. >> Um so unless anyone has a different preference, I think we start from the top and discuss each of these may be inclined. Um I'll start I guess chair's prerogative, right? Uh I am a okay with Kristen's proposed study on the jeans. I I think the most essential thing is that you're not wearing jeans that are ripped open in 30 places. I personally have no preference nor consideration
008for the professionalism of a particular color of jean, but that's just my take if other folks have something to throw out there on that. >> Um, so what do we all right by straw poll, I guess, because we're we're going to ask for just one vote unless we need to. So by straw poll, is everybody okay with that change? If you are, raise your hand. >> If you are not, raise your hand. Okay. All right. So, we'll work that in. >> May I make a suggestion that we just leave the first sentence as that item and take the rest of it out because doesn't really >> I don't know if that >> Yeah. So, it would just say um >> jeans with holes, ribs, >> unaccessible items, jeans with holes, ribs, phrase, excessive fading or
009states. >> Yeah. and then the rest of it would be struck >> and then maybe add something at the end that says, you know, uh that are professional, you know, I just feel like there's a lot of words in there that don't necessarily apply if that's going to be the the boards. >> And in all things, right, there's three rules. Be physically clean, neat, well groomed, and dress in a manner reflecting your professional assignment. So, we don't necessarily need to add the word professional in every single line either. I think it's, you know, it's an essential object of any employment. >> I think it goes without saying though, maybe this is where Kim is headed. You know, we're going to have to rework this so that it's grammatically correct, but we'll get the spirit of
010the decision. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Um, >> yeah. So, I think I think it makes sense because all we really at that point are looking at. Um, okay. So, with Mr. Cor, we'll move on. Uh the so the next proposal relates to shoes. Um so the change I think is that it would read, tell me if I'm wrong, Kristen, but it it would read uh unacceptable items. Athletic shoes, sports sandals, and flip flops. Sneakers shall be permitted provided they are clean and professional. That's what you'd like it to read. >> Yeah. I mean, obviously we don't need to allow sport sandals and flip-flops, those types of things. But um what about the pet that's not on here? like open to sandals in like warmer months like nicer sandals like that's not on here. I
011don't know if that's >> um I mean I think >> intention of the original writer or writers would be to prohibit any sandals of any kind at all times. Uh I'm not staking a claim on that but I think that's the intention of the original writing. Um so if you're looking to change that I mean the whole thing's up for discussion. So then by all mean well if they want to allow open toed sandals the big argument for sneakers was safety and have to move quickly. >> I don't think open toone sandals would fall under either one of those categories. >> Yeah. I don't disagree. I mean I >> Right. Yeah. I mean it's just it's just not listed. I just want if they're going to be prohibited it should be specific. >> Yeah. Uh
012we can be we can be more specific there. How does how do folks think about the sneakers issue? My understanding having not been there is that it's something where we got a lot of feedback and I saw a lot of written feedback in our emails. Um so >> I like it except I'd like to include somehow a solid color or something along those lines to avoid um light up shoes and glitter and you know like clown shoes. And I I can't think of a better way to explain it, but I just think it would be >> Yeah. just more, you know, in a a professional solid color sneaker. And I think that's easy enough to find. >> Yeah. I mean, I I like to think that Rare is the teacher who would be uh intentionally
013provocative for no reason uh to the dress code. Um so, I mean, I'm fine with putting it in. I just also don't think that it's, you know, it's not going to be the most uh common thing. Uh, I think you know I know many adults who wear excessively ornamented shoes in the dayto-day >> to work. >> Certainly not to work. >> That's all that's all I'm saying. I agree. I have some pretty sparkly sneakers myself that I would wear to a fair or something but or a concert I wouldn't wear to work. >> Yeah. My two cents on >> No. As silly as it may seem, I think it can sometimes be hard to define things like cleaner. >> It's pretty easy to define, >> right? No. Yeah. I'm just saying like if it just
014says cleaning professional, like what does that mean? Mean I can't wear my clown shoes. >> Um it sounds like you're going to nondistracting, right? >> That's a great word. >> So a shoe that's not distracting. It doesn't need to be bright green and pink and flashy lights cuz it's a distraction. It's not there because it's if it's for comfort. You want to look professional. These are today's youth that we're trying to develop into tomorrow's professionals. And you're trying to get everybody to set an example. So sneakers for comfort. and fast moving. I'm certainly in favor of it, but I also understand the flip side that that doesn't mean they're opening the board for, you know, there's a set of Nike errors with seven colors on it and you're doing it not as a fascist statement,
015but as a valid reasons that were brought forward last week that everybody has listened to. So, that's my take on it. However, we want to word that. >> Yeah, but I get it. >> Okay. So, uh, it would I would say something along the lines of sneakers shall be permitted provided they are clean and professional and their appearance is not disruptive to the learning environment. How about that? >> They're non non >> distracting me. I use the phrase like disrupting the learning environment in a lot of things to essentially mean >> may send it back with that. >> Yeah. >> I spent too much time with lawyers. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So by straw pull uh if you question one shoes, what do I haven't been paying attention much what does a teacher or an
016administrator wear? You brought up a point about open shoes. What do they normally wear around the school? I you see people in in like a dressy shoe or a heel type thing which a heel obviously isn't helpful for moving quickly which was one of the arguments but before we close the topic could we at least get I don't know what they all wear normally administrators and such would wear a whole you know department head somebody who may meet with parents more often there just a different type of dress at least in my world different type of dress based on who you interact with >> so I do think I think it sounds like maybe perhaps you're suggesting a sandal or an open toed sandal that maybe has a back like I have a pair on
017right now, but there's no back to it. So, they're not safe. >> Yeah. I'm just thinking that maybe we have an option that is still meets the qualification for safe. But again, I'm with you. An open to sandal with no back and you're going to soon as you make one run for a door, you're on the ground not helping a student, which are our primary focus. That doesn't work. But is there a last week and Kristen mentioned I started to think about >> especially in the in the summer >> in the summer when it's hot. >> Are there options for those things? >> And I I do I do see teachers dress quite often and like you know dresses in the summer or you know May and June and they have a nice pair of
018sandals on with a back. So I I just I don't know what's I think it needs to be a little bit more discussed. >> Yeah, we didn't. >> Yeah, I think the I think the back is the key, right? I think that you can wear a sandal that's appropriate, you know, that has a back and it's, you know, elevated in the back. I don't know if I don't know the term wedge or whatever, >> right? I mean, that then I think those are appropriate >> cuz like to your point, it it goes with the the meaning of decor if you will, >> but I think when you have a sandal like no offense, what Sue is wearing, >> that would be appropriate to wear. So, I agree. I think that and we could kind of
019Kim I think could have codified that with Sue. I am not the fashionist before I can't say this for the safety of them but to frame it perhaps someone helpfully remember that this list is things that are not permitted not things that are. >> So all you would have to do is put down what you don't want. So if you don't want open toe shoes without a back on the base, right? >> Um because everything else provided it otherwise falls under the initial three clauses would be per right. This list is not exhaustive. >> Okay. So by straw pull um if you are finding yourself accepting of those proposed changes, please raise your hand. Uh if you would not ask me if you want to ask >> just with one caveat um in terms of
020the the sneakers. I just want to see the wording on the colors cuz while I see Sue's point and I agree, I think one color sneaker is very difficult to find cuz you're going to find some sort of even if you have a white sneaker, it's going to have some sort of trim on it. >> Yeah. I think I think we move toward something that's something along the lines of like not not distracting, not throw in a learning environment cuz I I you're ambivalent. if your sneakers are blue and white, right? Um, >> so I think the the goal is to define what we actually want while being uh as uh nonrestrictive as possible, right? Like there's there's stuff that we explicitly don't want, but we also don't want everybody to just wear the same
021thing every day, right? North Korea. >> Um, okay, let's talk about uh sweatshirts and t-shirts. We have effectively two different um proposed languages here >> should go as soon as though >> uh yeah I I >> that was entered after my edits >> right yeah and so for everyone's benefit the one that uh Kristen is advocating for and proposed by Suen reads clothing with graphics slogans or logos must be appropriate for a school setting graphic t-shirts or sweatshirts directly related to an employees role with Torington public schools such as brand uh sorry such as school branded apparel or items connected to curriculum and school programs are permitted. Uh so you can wear you wear your big torin tea on your shirt and I feel like that >> is that going to be limited to the
022either a Wednesday and then maybe a Friday a dress down day for to go towards a charity because I like to see us actually get into that again. That was the opportunity. >> Yeah, it's a worthy discussion. Uh, I would say my my immediate reaction is that if we're going to pass out shirts with the Torington tea or say Torington public schools on them at events and stuff like that and right we're passing them out to people who work for us. I feel like we shouldn't say also now you can't wear this to work. I just want you to wear this in public. Like you know what I mean? Uh, >> so I I I'm fine with this language, but limiting it to one or two days a week because it doesn't change anything if
023it's allowed every day. There's there's still t-shirts and sweatshirts. >> I was going to add that my comment before, which is we're making tomorrow's professionals. I like I like the the graphic TE's that are supportive, the the cool somebody mentioned a Star Wars math one a couple weeks ago, a science one and the to the stuff that promotes our school identity. I love it. I do think that it's worthy to entertain Sue Ferguson's idea of and not to say that everybody would do this, right? You hate to think of it as well 15% of the people do, but you don't want everybody coming in with a Torington t-shirt on 5 days a week. We do want to set that example and that's the goal of the board. So, I would be fully in support of
024a number of days a week or or special days whether maybe one day a week is always allowed or one day a week as a as a special charity donation and maybe that donation rotates through the district to some of our own, you know, to maybe a variety of external service external charities and our own like hat day for the football team or, you know, we're going to do special sock day for the cheerleaders or whatever it may be. I think there's a great opportunity for some innovation there. >> We do later make exceptions as well for uh school sponsored district sponsored spirit days, school sponsored events, etc. Um so this would be more like what we're talking about is just it's a a normal day. Um and you are wearing a t-shirt uh just
025to frame it. I guess I have to keep in mind that some schools have spirit days in specific colors more. >> Yep. So the the way the way it actually reads in the exceptions list is the second to last one is employees may dress accordingly for approved district or school sponsored spirit days. So even if it's just their school, >> um it still makes the exception for that. >> Um but if you're not Oh, sorry. >> I'm sorry. My question was on that. The school sponsored spirit days, are they every week or monthly? How does that work? >> I don't know. >> I think it varies. >> You know, they have a spirit week and you know that's I think you know we've said clearly in here like no pajama pants but if they had
026a pajama day clearly pajama pants would be okay if it's more if it's weekly. Yes. And it's no it's meant to be special. >> Right. I think the language that you're talking about would have to read something along the lines of um you know dress down days may be permitted up to x number of days per week at the discretion of and you could choose either the superintendent or the building principal whichever is the board's pleasure. Um >> I would say superend >> and that way however it's structured and whichever days they are is not something that's set in stone. Um, that feels like the kind of thing that people can work out without being uh forced into it by us. >> Which day you mean? Yeah. >> Yeah. Right. >> Um, I don't know
027that I necessarily am in love with the idea, but um, you know, I think that's how it would have to be structured. Uh, if we were going to do it, um, I think I don't think we'd want to get into the weeds on picking days. People can wear Torington t-shirts. >> T-shirts. Yeah, I agree. >> And other things like that. But the other thing is to be clear the way this clause is written uh it it says uh graphic t-shirts or sweatshirts directly related to an employees role with public schools such as the brand stuff. So, uh, I think it's important to clarify the folks who are looking for this, whether you're looking to let people wear, um, any t-shirt or sweatshirt, provided, of course, it meets the rules for what can be on it,
028>> um, on these dress down days or are you saying, you know, you have to donate a dollar to the food bank to wear your Torington branded Torington public school branded t-shirt, right? The goal would be that if it's if it is a dress down day, they can be wearing whatever t-shirt or sweatshirt they want. that's in accordance with the rules for what it is. >> That's what you're asking. >> Okay. >> But limiting it to two days. >> Sure. Yeah. Yes. I just want to make because the way it's written now, right, if we just add you could do it two days a week, it would still only let people wear their torington that part too. >> Um well, what do what do other folks think? Um, in regards to this, and I'm not
029totally up to speed on a student dress code, but do we ex not allow the kids to wear hoodies? >> Hoodies are permitted. They are not allowed to wear their hoodie. >> Which makes sense. Um, I just again the safety thing. There's a lot of stuff about safety. If the teacher's trying to intervene in an altercation, a hoodie on you wearing a hoodie is not really the best thing to wear. >> Well, I think so. >> We can just as well, Right. We could just as well, >> we're talking about sweatshirts, so what I'm getting at is do we separate shirts and hoodies? >> We can absolutely do that, right? We can make a distinction between hooded clothing and not hooded clothing. You didn't see a teacher get hammer tossed like something, right? >> Yeah.
030There there's a very simple distinction in the way that we can write that. Just made it to be clear. You can't write anything with a hood on it. I think that's reasonable as well, >> right? >> Um >> especially for safety purposes. >> And it's not going to ask. >> Okay. So, where are folks at? Um, I guess the first thing would be do you want do people want to allow under any circumstance at all sometimes or some t-shirts and sweatshirts and then we can talk about how to structure it? >> Yes. >> Is anybody anybody against that? Okay. All right. So then what I guess uh how do I phrase this? If your preference is to create dress down days in the policy in line with the supervised, raise your hand >> versus what?
031>> Uh, sorry. >> Well, no, I think I think if if this does not have a majority in the straw poll, then we would toss the idea and work on the rest of it. >> All right. >> Um, so but if you want that, then we can just do so if you want to do dress down days in the policy, I would say indicate that. >> Okay. So that's got majority support. So, let's let's run with that. >> Yeah. >> Um, what one base for two? Anyone care? >> One for two. >> Two. Great. Anyone else? Anyone want to argue? >> One would be mine, but I'm not going to die on the sword. >> Yeah. One, one would be mine, too, but I don't want to I don't want to I don't want to
032spend a whole lot of time on it. >> Right. Um >> because here the reason the reason reasoning behind it there are spirit days in the buildings and and everybody has special days. So that leads it to then that ends up with three days a week if it happens to be I mean it we're kind of just we're splitting hairs at this point but you know it I just don't want every week to turn to an extra spirit day. >> Great. So I think it should say up to two days per week at the discretion of the superintendent >> inclusive of spirit days and whatever. You could just write it to say up to two days a week >> including would include spirit days or anything else. The idea we'll see what happens right if
033you go to two days and people ran on two days this is either going to be successful have a the cultural change to whatever he wants to see and it'll be great or there'll be people who are trying to push the limits and let's sit down and do it again. I think most people are responsible enough to realize the goal that the board's going in and everybody's going to kind of figure out a way to make it work for everybody. If it doesn't, then we have to come back and look at it again, which nobody would want to do. So, I'm sure it'll be fine. >> Right. My only thing um is it won't say this, but I think we should be clear about our intent that the intent would not have it say up
034to two days at the discretion of the superintendent so that we can dangle these in front of schools, principals, employees, etc. as rewards or punishments. It's just how how right just how best to make the system work. >> We're just giving the administrators a little leeway on how best to structure this. It's not like a yeah, we can go to zero if you annoy us kind of thing. >> Here knows that, but I think it's important to just say it. >> Um, okay. >> No, no, that's I'm sorry. I just I'm just saying it now. >> Okay. >> So that it doesn't fly through the groomer bill. >> All right. Gotcha. >> Um and uh the last thing is I'm totally fine with like you know if it just says leggings may be worn as
035long as top covers the entire but >> great. Yeah. >> Yeah. Cuz I think it's a possibility that this may this sentence may have been written thinking that leggings were more like tights. >> Yeah. >> Which I could see because tights are an undergarment and should be covered, >> right? Which we already that we discussed at length from the student from the student, but this is clearly says leggings does not say tight. So, I think it as long as >> right and if you are wearing leggings that are short, not wearing women's clothing, I'm just guessing you're doing it under like a skirt or a dress to make sure the wind doesn't catch you the wrong way. Tights under fine then let's Yeah, I'm okay with that. Is everyone okay with that? anything to struggle
036with she's talking about. >> Okay. Yeah. Um, so everything else here to be clear, nobody has any issues with, right? So provisions on tank tops with uh spaghetti straps, you can't wear underwears, outerw wear. Uh, you can't, you know, number eight deals with all the things you can't have on any of your clothing. Um, which is very simple. It's all the stuff that you wouldn't be wearing at work anyway, right? nothing that's of a sexual nature or is an advertisement for a cigarette brand, etc. Um, I don't think anybody's wearing that stuff. But anyway, I I think all the rest of this makes sense to me. Um, just looking it over one last time to make sure um, you know, we make note of reasonable accommodations for religious wear uh, which we would have anyway.
037In the same way that even though the policy doesn't make explicit exception for anything with a medical note, we would obviously accommodate anybody's medical needs. Um, go ahead. I don't have anything. Anyone else? Okay. Now, knowing that there is going to be a language clean up on the part of our administrative team and it'll be viewed for its uh compliance with the law by the board's legal team, um does the board want is the board's closure to wait until we see that final language to vote or are people comfortable voting tonight knowing that the amended language will be available shortly? It's up to you. We can do that. >> We should probably see the real language. I want to see the >> right and we've listed this as possible action so we can vote next
038week. >> Next Wednesday. >> Okay, great. So that's that's that. Um and then we just have update on the RFP process for the for so process has been going really well. Um it's been out it's been advertised. Currently we have six bids uh and it closes tomorrow at 4:00. Um, Donna and I have the reason we had to extend it when there were some questions. Um, but it is all good and tomorrow at 4:00 it will officially close. So, we will be able to review it and then present the um board with the um the people who had put a proposed bid in and the ones that we feel very um and there's not a budget committee meeting between now and the next board meeting is there. >> The next board meeting is next Wednesday,
039>> right? Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, so while we are on this topic, um, because the bids close tomorrow, uh, what is the board's pleasure on skipping a referral to the budget committee and hearing uh, this issue for consideration directly on the board's agenda? We have the ability to do so. We can place whatever we need to on our agenda, but if you want, I want to see it sooner than later. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Anybody have any objection to that? Do people desperately want to see it in the committee process? Okay. All right. So then, uh, provided with all that's going well with the bids and the review. Oh, Alan, did you have something and no, I just wanted to show you guys were fine. Okay. >> Yes. As long as nothing's gone wrong, we'll
040place that for consideration on the board uh, agenda for it next regular meeting. >> Anyone have any questions with superintendent? >> Great. Great. Okay. Uh, with that, I will hear a motion to move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> We are