Code No. 205

Board of Directors

Code of Ethics

Board members’ actions, verbal and nonverbal, reflect the attitude and the beliefs of the school district.  Therefore, board members must conduct themselves professionally and in a manner fitting to their position.

Each school board member shall follow the code of ethics stated in this policy.

AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER:

         1.     I will listen.

         2.     I will respect the opinion of others.

         3.     I will recognize the integrity of my predecessors and associates and the merit of their work.

         4.     I will be motivated only by an earnest desire to serve my district and the children of  my community in the best possible way.

         5.     I will not use the schools or any part of the school program for my own personal advantage or for the advantage of my friends or supporters.

         6.     I will vote for a closed session of the board if the situation requires it, but I will consider “star chamber” or “secret” sessions of board members unethical.

         7.     I will recognize that to promise in advance of a meeting how I will vote on any proposition which is to be considered, is to close my mind and agree not to think  through other facts and points of view which may be presented in the meeting.

         8.     I will expect, in board meetings, to spend more time on educational programs and procedures than on business details.

         9.     I will recognize that authority rests with the board in legal session, and not with individual members of the board, except as authorized by law.

       10.     I will make no disparaging remarks, in or out of the board meeting, about other members of the board or their opinions.

       11.     I will express my honest and most thoughtful opinions frankly, in board meetings, in an effort to have all decisions made for the best interests of the children and the schools.

       12.     I will insist that all members of the board participate fully in board action, and recommend that when special committees are appointed, they serve only in an investigating and advisory capacity.

       13.     I will abide by majority decisions of the board.

       14.     I will carefully consider petitions, resolutions, and complaints, and will act upon the best interests of the schools.

       15.     I will not discuss the confidential business of the board in my  home, on the street, or in my office, the place for such discussion being the school board meeting.

       16.     I will endeavor to keep informed on local, state, and national education developments of significance so that I may become a better school board member.

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IN MEETING MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MY COMMUNITY

         1.     I will consider myself a trustee of public education and will do my part to protect it,  conserve it, and advance it, giving to the children of my community the educational facilities that are as complete and adequate as it is possible to provide.

         2.     I will consider it an important responsibility of the board to interpret the aims, methods and attitudes of the schools to the community.

         3.     I will earnestly try to interpret the needs and attitudes of the community and do my best to translate them into the educational program of the schools.

         4.     I will attempt to procure adequate financial support for the schools.

         5.     I will represent the entire district rather than individual electors, patrons, or groups.

         6.     I will not regard the schools as my own private property, but as the property of the people.

IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF

         1.     I will function, in meeting the legal responsibility that is mine, as a part of a legislative, policy-forming body, not as an administrative officer.

         2.     I will recognize that it is my responsibility, together with that of my fellow board members, to see that the schools are properly run and not to run them myself.

         3.     I will expect the schools to be administered by the best-trained technical and professional people it is possible to procure.

         4.     I will recognize the superintendent as executive officer of the board.

         5.     I will work through the administrative employees of the board, not over or around them.

         6.     I will expect the superintendent to keep the school board adequately informed through oral and written reports.

         7.     I will vote to employ personnel only after the recommendation of the superintendent has been received.

         8.     I will insist that contracts be equally binding on the teacher and the school board.

         9.     I will give the superintendent power commensurate with the superintendent’s responsibility and will not in any way interfere with, or seek to undermine, the superintendent’s authority.

       10.     I will give the superintendent friendly counsel and advice.

       11.     I will present any personal criticism of employees to the superintendent.

       12.     I will refer complaints to the proper administrative officer.

TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS

         1.     I will not help to employ a superintendent, principal, or teacher who is already under contract with another school without first securing assurance from the proper authority that the person can be released from contract.

         2.     I will consider it unethical to pursue any procedure calculated to embarrass a neighboring board or its representatives.

         3.     I will not recommend an employee for a position in another school unless I would employ said employee under similar circumstances.

         4.     I will associate myself with school board members of other districts, for the purpose of  discussing school problems and cooperating in the improvement of public school conditions.

Legal Reference:     Iowa Code Chapters 21.6(3)(d), 69, 277.28 (2003).

Cross Reference:    200     School Board Members

                                 200     School Board Member Conflicts of Interest

Approved:    April 10, 1989          

Reviewed:    February 22, 2005  

Revised: