Smithfield committee approves updated dress code, adds ban on hats

The School Committee approved the district’s revised dress code (policy JICA) at its second reading, adding a specific prohibition on hats for daily wear.

The dress‑code revision was developed by a committee that included parents, administrators, teachers and a school committee member. Committee members debated whether hat restrictions should differ between elementary and secondary levels and whether the prohibition should allow exceptions. The amendment approved by the committee explicitly bans hats as a daily item but retains exceptions for religious or medical reasons and allows spirit‑week or special‑event hat days.

Supporters of a district‑wide hat prohibition said a single standard would ease enforcement and address safety and security concerns; others argued secondary schools had not viewed hats as a major problem. The superintendent said the committee could add granular language on enforcement and consider school‑level discretion in the future.

On motion to approve the dress code as amended to prohibit hats, the committee voted yes; the motion was seconded and the ayes prevailed. The revised dress code will be incorporated into other student handbooks and posted in the district’s digital materials.