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Waukesha board approves revised staff dress-and-appearance policies after amendment
Summary
The School District of Waukesha Board of Education approved revisions to policies 3216 and 4216 on Jan. 15, 2025, after an amendment to remove two references to “COVID,” correct a numbering typo and retain non-cloth/PPE mask language. The measures passed 8-1 following debate over cloth masks and free‑speech concerns.
The School District of Waukesha Board of Education on Wednesday approved revisions to two staff dress-and-appearance policies — Policy 3216 (professional staff) and Policy 4216 (support staff) — after a late amendment that removed two references to “COVID” and corrected a typographical item-number. The motion passed on a roll call vote, 8-1.
Board members said the changes were technical corrections but drew focused discussion about whether policy language risked restricting employees’ symbolic expression and about a clause addressing masks. David Wadd, who presented the committee recommendation, moved to approve the policies as circulated. After debate, the board voted to amend the committee version to strike the two instances of the word “COVID” and to change an item label from “A1” to “1” before final approval.
The amendment was proposed and seconded from the dais and carried; the subsequent approval of the policies was recorded with one no vote from Diane Voigt. Board discussion included concerns that the draft language defining “disruptive” or “controversial” items could limit employees’ ability to display pins, lanyards or other small symbols; a board member urged deletion of two paragraphs for that reason. The district’s legal counsel had previously reviewed the policy language and was reported to have no objection to the wording.
A separate thread of the discussion addressed masks. One board member questioned removing a reference that distinguished cloth masks from disposable or medical-grade masks on the grounds that disposable/N95-style masks provide more reliable personal protective equipment than some cloth coverings. That member said the district should preserve PPE options for staff who choose them for medical or safety reasons; the amendment retained non‑cloth mask language so disposable and medical‑grade masks remain referenced in policy.
The board did not reopen the policies for additional substantive edits beyond the amendment; the roll-call vote to adopt the policies as amended passed 8-1. The board president directed staff to post the updated policies in board documents and confirmed the district sought to balance staff free-speech considerations, workplace decorum and safety.
Ending: The board’s Human Resources and Compensation Committee will continue regular policy reviews; no additional changes to the dress-and-appearance policies were scheduled at the meeting.
