0123 - STANDARDS OF BOARDMANSHIP/CODE OF ETHICS

As a member of the Board, each Board member shall promote the best interest of the School District as a whole, and, to that end, each Board member shall adhere to the following educational and ethical standards:

1. make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of all children, regardless of ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing;
2. bring about desired changes through legal and ethical procedures, upholding and enforcing all laws, State Board of Education policies, and court orders pertaining to schools;
3. recognize that decisions must be made by the Board as a whole and that when made, these decisions must be supported by the entire Board;
4. focus Board action on policymaking, goal setting, planning, and evaluation and insist on regular and impartial evaluation of all staff;
5. support school personnel in the proper performance of their duties;
6. hold confidential all matters pertaining to the educational system that may needlessly harm individuals or the system and respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law;
7. attend all scheduled Board meetings and workshops insofar as is possible and become informed on the issues to be considered at these meetings;
8. work with the Superintendent, neither undermining nor intruding into the areas legally assigned to the school administration;
9. make policy decisions only after full discussion at public Board meetings and render these decisions based on available facts refusing to surrender that judgment to individuals or special groups;
10. encourage the free expression of opinion by all Board members and seek systematic communication between the Board and students, staff and all elements of the community;
11. inform myself about current educational issues through study and participation in appropriate programs and/or workshops;
12. refrain from using my Board position for personal or political gain;
13. encourage recognition of the achievements of students and staff and of the involvement of business and community members;
14. listen responsively to the community and make decisions based on the best interest of the system as a whole;
15. support legislation and funding which will help to improve the educational opportunities and environment for students and staff;
16. remember always that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all the students attending the District and that we must provide appropriate curriculum, facilities, and motivation so that students will be encouraged to love learning, enabling them to achieve their fullest and highest potential.

Pursuant to F.S. 1001.42(7), a Board member may not knowingly sign and transmit to any State official a report of alleged misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student which the Board member knows to be false or incorrect, or knowingly fail to adopt policies that requires instructional personnel and school administrators to report alleged misconduct by other instructional personnel and school administrators, or that require the investigation of all reports of alleged misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators, if the misconduct affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Violation of these provisions will result in the forfeit of the Board member's salary for one (1) year.

Revised 4/22/08
Revised 7/22/14
Revised 7/10/18
Revised 8/8/23

© Neola 2015