Policy 6110

PERSONNEL
6110 SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE CODE OF ETHICS


The Board of Education is committed to avoiding any situation in which the existence of conflicting interests of any Board member, officer or employee may call into question the integrity of the management or operation of the School District. The Board recognizes that sound, ethical standards of conduct serve to increase the effectiveness of District officers and staff as educators and public employees in the community. Adherence to a Code of Ethics promotes public confidence in the schools and furthers the attainment of District goals.

The provisions of this policy are intended to supplement Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and any other law relating to ethical conduct of District officers and employees, and should not be construed to conflict with those authorities. Therefore, every Board member, officer and employee of the District, whether paid or unpaid, shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics.

Conflicts of Interest


Except as permitted by law, no person may have an interest in any contract with the District when he or she, individually, or as a member of the Board, has the power or duty to:  negotiate, prepare, authorize, or approve the contract or authorize or approve payment under the contract; audit bills or claims under the contract; or appoint an officer or employee who has any of these powers or duties. 

Likewise, unless permitted by law, no chief fiscal officer, treasurer, or his or her deputy or employee, may have an interest in a bank or trust company designated as a depository, paying agent, registration agent, or for investment of funds of the District. 

No employee, officer, or agent will participate in selecting, awarding, or administering a contract supported by a federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. These conflicts could arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization that employs or is about to employ any of these parties has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal interest benefit from a firm considered for a contract. Employees, officers, and agents will not solicit or accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts. The District may, however, set standards for situations where the financial interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value.

"Interest," as used in this policy, means a direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a District officer or employee as the result of a contract with the District. A District officer or employee will be considered to have an interest in the contract of:  his or her spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of employment with the District; a firm, partnership or association of which he or she is a member or employee; a corporation of which he or she is an officer, director or employee; and a corporation any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by him or her.

The provisions of the preceding four paragraphs should not be construed to preclude the payment of lawful compensation and necessary expenses of any District officer or employee in one or more positions of public employment, the holding of which is not prohibited by law.

Gifts


A Board member, officer or employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit any gift or accept or receive any gift having a value of $75 or more, whether in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or any other form, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended to influence him or her in the performance of his or her official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his or her part.

However, the Board welcomes and encourages the writing of letters or notes expressing gratitude or appreciation to staff members. Gifts from children that are principally sentimental in nature and of insignificant financial value may be accepted in the spirit in which they are given.

Confidential Information

A Board member, officer or employee shall not disclose confidential information acquired by him or her in the course of his or her official duties or use such information to further his or her personal interests. 

Representation before the Board or District

A Board member, officer or employee shall not receive or enter into any agreement, expressed or implied, for compensation for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before the School District. Likewise, no one may receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services rendered in relation to any matter before the District, where the individual's compensation is contingent upon any action by the District with respect to the matter.

Disclosure of Interest in Contracts and Resolutions

Any District officer or employee who has, will have, or later acquires an interest in or whose spouse has, will have or later acquires an interest in any actual or proposed contract, purchase agreement, lease agreement, or other agreement, including oral agreements, with the District must publicly disclose the nature and extent of that interest in writing. The disclosure must be made when the officer or employee first acquires knowledge of the actual or prospective interest, and must be filed with the person's immediate supervisor and the Board. Any written disclosure will be made part of and included in the official minutes of the relevant Board meeting.

Investments in Conflict with Official Duties

A Board member, officer or employee shall not invest or hold any investment directly in any financial, business, commercial or other private transaction that creates a conflict with his or her official duties, or that would otherwise impair his or her independence of judgment in the exercise or performance of his or her official powers or duties. Exceptions to the conflict of interest law can be found in Section 802 of the General Municipal Law (see 2160-E.1).

Private Employment

A Board member, officer or employee shall not engage in, solicit, negotiate for or promise to accept private employment when that employment or service creates a conflict with or impairs the proper discharge of his or her official duties.

Future Employment


A Board member, officer or employee shall not, after the termination of service or employment with the District, appear before the Board in relation to any action, proceeding, or application in which he or she personally participated during the period of his or her service or employment or that was under his or her active consideration. A Board member shall not, while serving on the Board, seek appointment to paid employment with the District or otherwise create the appearance of impropriety in District employment decisions.

Involvement with Charitable Organizations


A Board member, officer or employee may be involved as a volunteer, officer or employee in a charitable organization which has a relationship with the District. If a Board member is a board member, officer or employee of the charitable organization the Board member must disclose such relationship in writing to the District, and the Board member must recuse himself or herself from any discussions or votes relating to the charitable organization which may come before the Board. When participating in the activities of the charitable organization, the Board member, officer or employee shall not disclose any confidential information learned in the course of his or her official duties or use such information to further personal interests. Additionally, the Board member, officer or employee shall not make representations on behalf of the District unless specifically authorized to do so by the Board.

Distribution of Code of Ethics


The Superintendent of Schools shall cause a copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every member of the Board, every officer and employee of the School District. Each officer and employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished a copy before entering upon the duties of his or her office or employment. In addition, the Superintendent shall ensure that a copy of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law shall be kept posted in each public building under the District's jurisdiction in a place conspicuous to the District's officers and employees.

Penalties 


In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, any person who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the provisions of the Board's Code of Ethics and its accompanying regulation may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.


Policy References:

General Municipal Law Article 18 §§ 800-809
2 CFR § 200.318(c)(1)
Education Law § 410


Adopted:  6/10/14
Revised:  6/12/18, 9/6/22

Policy 6110