ROCK SPRINGS – While there is always an on-going debate over Rock Springs students dress code, on Monday the Sweetwater County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees unanimously changed the staff dress code. The change is to benefit the school foundation.
Reed Clevenger who was representing the school foundation spoke on a Blue Jeans for Students campaign the foundation would like to begin. The campaign is based on similar programs in which for a donation, employees are allowed to wear jeans on Friday. Clevenger specifically referenced the success of a similar program at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County.
For a $5 donation, which would go to programs spearheaded by the school foundation, employees would be allowed to wear jeans on Friday. Clevenger said as employees gave the donation, they would be given a sticker or a badge which would signify they have made the donation.
After asking staff about the idea and looking at similar programs, Clevenger estimated the foundation could raise between $6,000 to $10,000 for the foundation annually.
“Those that do not choose to make the donation will follow dress code as usual,”Clevenger explained adding jeans must be professional.
The start day for “Blue Jeans for Students” is scheduled to start Nov. 8.
“It seemed to be a no brainer to me but I know there are things that need to be discussed,” Clevenger stated.
Board member Joyce Corcoran asked if they had received any employee feedback. Clevenger said they have been keeping the program as quiet as possible but explained the feedback they did receive was very positive.
Trustee Max Mickelson asked about spirit days and how this program would affect them twice, once in discussion and once when the board was deciding on the change to the dress code policy.
Superintendent Mathew Neal explained in would be up to the building administrators. He said in a previous school he was at, they used spirit days during homecoming week.
“You could have a spirit day on a Tuesday if the principal wanted to,” Neal said.
The board unanimously accepted the changes to the dress code which would allow the program to move forward.
