SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS OR UNAUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS OR UNAUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

po3214Adopted May 1, 2004Revised March 12, 2024

3214 - SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS OR UNAUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

Pursuant to State law no instructional staff member shall solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient, including, but not limited to, a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service, that is based upon any understanding that the vote, official action, or judgement of the instructional staff member would be influenced thereby.

For purposes of this policy, the meaning of "gift" shall be consistent with the definition of the term in F.S. 112.312(12)(a), and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

  1. real property

  2. the use of real property

  3. tangible or intangible personal property

  4. a preferential rate or terms on a debt, loan, goods or services

  5. forgiveness of an indebtedness

  6. transportation, other than that provided to other employees in relation to officially approved government business, lodging, or parking

  7. food or beverage

  8. membership dues

  9. entrance fees, admission fees, or tickets to events, performances, or facilities

  10. plants, flowers, or floral arrangements

  11. services provided by persons pursuant to a professional license or certificate

  12. other personal services for which a fee is normally charged

  13. any other similar service or thing having an attribute value

It is the policy of the Board that instructional staff members may accept gifts of nominal value from students or parents in celebration of a holiday, the staff member's birthday, or at the end of a school year.

The District defines nominal value as $50.00 or less. The Superintendent must approve acceptance of any gift, loan, reward, favor, or service in excess of $50.00.

The Superintendent may approve acts of generosity to individual staff members in unusual situations.

Pursuant to State law, no instructional staff member of the District, or his/her spouse or minor child shall, at any time, accept compensation, payment, or anything of value when the instructional staff member knows, or, with the exercise of reasonable care, should know, that it was given to influence the vote or other action in which the instructional staff member was expected to participate in his/her official capacity. Furthermore, instructional staff members shall not accept any compensation, payment, or anything of value from a vendor after a decision has been made to purchase equipment, supplies, or services from said vendor.

In addition, instructional staff members who recommend purchases shall not enter into a contractual relationship with a vendor seeking to do business with the District, or a vendor with whom the District is doing business, whereby an individual instructional staff member receives compensation, payment, or anything of value for services rendered.

Such compensation includes, but is not limited to, cash, checks, stocks, or any other form of securities, and gifts as defined in State law, albeit unsolicited, from a vendor, the instructional staff member shall notify the Fiscal Officer, in writing, that s/he received such compensation and shall thereafter promptly transmit said compensation to the Fiscal Officer.

Any instructional staff member who has knowledge of, or suspects that, this policy has been violated is expected to report this violation or suspected violation in accordance with Policy 3211 – Whistleblower Protection.

See also Policy 3129, Conflict of Interest. 

Revised 4/12/05
Revised 10/28/14
Revised 3/12/24

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