| Subject: | CODE OF CONDUCT |
| Source(s): | Board Policy 9000 |
Gifts, expense reimbursement
1. No employee may accept or solicit for personal use a gift worth more than token value from a pupil or parent of a pupil who is not a relative. The Superintendent may grant exceptions in extenuating circumstances such as cases of bereavement, illness or death.
2. No employee may accept or solicit a gift from any source if such acceptance either could reasonably be expected to influence the employee's exercise of judgment in the performance of his/her duties or could reasonably be considered as a reward for any official action.
3. No employee shall accept or solicit any gift from a District vendor for the employee's personal use unless such gift is either offered to the general public or is not given to the employee because of his/her employment with the District.
4. No employee with District purchasing authority shall accept anything of value from any party other than the District in conjunction with attendance at a demonstration or promotion of goods or services offered for sale to the District.
5. No employee may use his/her employment with the District to obtain for personal use anything of substantial value from any party other than the District.
Use of District resources
Except as provided in the Board's policy on Copyright (Policy 1.13 in this Manual), or as available to the general public, no employee shall use District property, resources, facilities, equipment, supplies, services, or time in pay status for personal use, personal financial gain, or to promote any political candidate, party or cause.
Conflict of Interest
1. No employee may engage in other employment or independent contracting which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his/her District duties, or would tend to influence his/her judgment or action in the performance of his/her duties.
2. No employee whose non-District employment or independent contracting is compensated by a District vendor shall participate in or attempt to influence the District's purchasing process in matters involving such vendor.
3. No employee shall participate in or attempt to influence any District decision-making process in which s/he has a substantial personal or financial interest.
4. No employee may use his/her employment with the District in a way that produces or assists in the production of a substantial benefit for the employee.
PROCEDURE
1. When serving in a public office interferes with District employment, a leave shall be requested by the employee.
2. An employee who enters into an employment or independent contractor agreement with a District vendor shall file a disclosure form with the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, or his/her designee, within 30 days after entering into that agreement, and annually thereafter while such agreement remains in effect.
3. An employee who receives any gift or other thing of value, which the employee is prohibited from accepting under this policy, shall either return it to the donor or turn it over to the District Comptroller's office.
4. Board members, the Superintendent, the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, and all employees with District purchasing authority shall (1) file a Statement of Economic Interests with the Legal Counsel of the Board prior to April 30 of each year; and (2) file a disclosure form with the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services or his/her designee within 30 days after entering into an employment or independent contractor agreement contemplating annual compensation of $1,000,000 or more.
Sanctions
Employees violating this policy or procedure are subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal. Board members who fail to file the required Statement of Economic Interest shall not be paid until such filing is effected.
Definitions of Terms Used Throughout
1. Employee is defined as the School Board, citizen members, except students, of School Board committees, and all persons who receive wages from the District who are under any contract for hire, express or implied, oral or written, where the employer has the power or right to control and direct the employee in the material details of how the work is to be performed.
2. Personal use includes use by an immediate family member and/or use by an organization with which the employee is associated. The definition of personal use does not include campaign contributions.
3. Exercise of judgment includes, but is not limited to: votes, official action, and inaction.
4. Substantial personal interest or substantial benefit to the employee includes, but is not limited to, such interest or benefit that an immediate family member has, as well as an interest in an organization with which the employee is associated.
5. Gift includes a loan, service, favor, gratuity, premiums, discount or anything else of value.
October 1992