THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, June 7, 1995                TAG: 9506070515
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                     LENGTH: Medium:   60 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Norma Owens is a special education teacher at Strawbridge Elementary School, Virginia Beach. Her first name was misspelled in a MetroNews story Wednesday on the school's dress code. Correction published , Thursday, June 8, 1995, p.A2 ***************************************************************** BEACH SCHOOL APPROVES DRESS CODE FOR STAFF TEACHERS GENERALLY SUPPORT GUIDELINES AT STRAWBRIDGE.

Looking to set a good example for students who will be asked to wear uniforms during the next school year, the staff of Strawbridge Elementary School will have to obey a new dress code.

The 15 ``guidelines for professional dress,'' presented to the School Board Tuesday, ban tight-fitting or sloppy clothing and outfits suitable for evening, the beach or athletic activities. Men must wear ties; women may wear skirts and dress shorts, but they must be longer than three inches above the knee.

``Keep in mind, dress so that you would feel comfortable if a parent, School Board representative, or community member were to visit your classroom,'' the guidelines state. ``When in doubt, ask approval from the administration.''

Strawbridge is the second Hampton Roads school recently to adopt a written staff dress code. Teachers at Ruffner Middle School in Norfolk will have to adhere to an eight-page list of rules for their attire during the next school year. The list generated some debate among the teachers' associations in Norfolk.

Strawbridge Principal Olivia Dabney said teachers generally have been supportive of the guidelines, developed by the faculty council.

About 80 percent of the staff members surveyed at the school said they favored some type of guidelines, Dabney said. All staff members were invited to help the faculty council draft the guidelines.

``We are role models for the children, so we have to be really careful about the image, the perception,'' Dabney said.

``Our kids look up to us, and our parents, too. And if they see one of us dressed inappropriately, that tarnishes all of us.''

Special education teacher Normal Owens said she was in favor of the guidelines.

``It's going to be minimal change for me,'' Owens said. ``It's just a set of guidelines that are written down.''

The School Board initially approved the plan, but later revoked its unanimous vote. Board members said their about-face would not preclude Strawbridge from having the guidelines but the board should not interfere with policies adopted by specific schools.

The board approved plans presented by Strawbridge and two other elementary schools to have students wear uniforms beginning in the fall. by CNB