Original Adopted Date: 1-10-1983                                            Last Revised Date: 5-22-2000                                                      Last Reviewed Date: 6-10-2024

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

AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER:

1. I shall listen.

2. I shall respect the opinion of others.

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

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

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

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

7. I shall recognize that to promise in advance of a meeting how I shall 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 shall expect, in board meetings, to spend more time on education programs and procedures than on business details.

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

11. I shall express my honest and most thoughtful opinions frankly in board meetings in an effort to have decisions made for the best interests of the children and the education program.

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

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

14. I shall carefully consider petitions, resolutions and complaints and shall act in the best interests of the school district.

15. I shall not discuss the confidential business of the board in my home, on the street or in my office; the place for such discussion is the board meeting.

16. I shall endeavor to keep informed on local, state and national educational developments of significance so I may become a better board member.

IN MEETING MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MY SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY

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

2. I shall consider it an important responsibility of the board to interpret the aims, methods and attitudes of the school district to the community.

3. I shall earnestly try to interpret the needs and attitudes of the school district community and do my best to translate them into the education program of the school district.

4. I shall attempt to procure adequate financial support for the school district.

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

6. I shall not regard the school district facilities as my own private property but as the property of the people.

IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SUPERINTENDENT AND EMPLOYEES

1. I shall 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 shall recognize that it is my responsibility, together with that of my fellow board members, to see the school district is properly run and not to run them myself.

3. I shall expect the school district to be administered by the best-trained technical and professional people it is possible to procure within the financial resources of the school district.

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

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

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

7. I shall vote to employ employees only after the recommendation of the superintendent has been received.

8. I shall insist that contracts be equally binding on teachers and the board.

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

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

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

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

TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS

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

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

3. I shall not recommend an employee for a position in another school district unless I would employ the employee under similar circumstances.

4. I shall answer all inquiries about the standing and ability of an employee to the best of my knowledge and judgment, with complete frankness.

5. I shall associate myself with  board members of other school districts for the purpose of discussing school district issues and cooperating in the improvement of the education program.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 21.6(3)(d); 68B; 69; 277.28; 279.7A, 279.8, 301.28.

Cross Reference:     202  Board of Directors Members

                              203  Board of Directors' Conflict of Interest