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POLICY 2160 The Board of Education recognizes that
sound, ethical standards of conduct serve to increase the effectiveness of
school Board members and their staff, as educational leaders in their
community. Actions based on an ethical
code of conduct promote public confidence and the attainment of district
goals. The Board also recognizes its
obligation to set forth a code of ethics under the provisions of the General
Municipal Law, to adopt a code of ethics setting forth the standards of
conduct required of all district officers and employees. B.O.E. adoption: Regulation 2160
Every officer and employee of the district,
whether paid or unpaid, including members of the Board of Education, shall
adhere to the following code of conduct: 1. Gifts:
An 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. 2. Confidential information: An 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
interest. In addition, he/she shall
not disclose information regarding any matters discussed in an executive
session of the Board whether such information is deemed confidential or not. 3. Representation before the Board: An officer or employee shall not receive or
enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services
to be rendered in relation to any matter before the school district. 4. Representation before the Board for a
contingent fee: An officer or
employee shall not receive or enter into any agreement, express or implied,
for compensation for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before
the school district, whereby the compensation is to be dependent or
contingent upon any action by the school district with respect to such
matter, provided that this paragraph shall not prohibit the fixing at any
time of fees based upon the reasonable value of the services rendered. 5. Disclosure
of interest in matters before the Board: A member of the Board of Education and any officer or employee of the
district, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion or gives
official opinion to the Board on any matter before the Board shall publicly
disclose on the official record the nature and extent of any direct or
indirect financial or other private interest he or she has in such matter.
The term Ainterest@ means a pecuniary or material benefit
accruing to an officer or employee. 6. Investments
in conflict with official duties: An 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. 7. Private employment: An
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. 8. No person employed by the district
shall hire, supervise, evaluate, promote, review or discipline
any other employee who is a member of the same family. In the event that marriage, promotion, or
reorganization results in a situation not in compliance with this policy,
reassignment or transfer will be effected, in accordance with the applicable
provisions of any collective bargaining agreement, to correct the situation. (1) R-2160 No person employed by the district shall
negotiate or execute any contract on behalf of the district for the purchase,
sale or lease of real or personal property, services of any nature, nor for
insurance without first having determined the common price for such property,
services or insurance, or requesting bids from all potential providers of
such property, services or insurance. No person employed by the
district shall allow any matter, concern or interest, personal, financial or
otherwise, to influence or interfere with the performance of his or her
duties. Should such a matter, concern
or interest arise, the employee shall bring the matter to the attention of
his or her supervisor or the Board to seek ways to reduce or eliminate the
influence or interference. The Board affirms its
commitment to adhere scrupulously to all applicable provisions of law
regarding material conflicts of interest. Knowing or willful violation
of this policy by any employee may result in disciplinary action up to and
including dismissal. Any officer, employee or
member of the public noting or suspecting a violation of this policy is
encouraged to bring the matter, either in confidence or in public, to the
Board or the Superintendent of Schools. 1.
Future employment: An
officer or employee shall not, after the termination of service or employment
with the Board, appear before the Board or any panel or committee of the
Board, in relation to any case, 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. This shall not bar or prevent the timely
filing by a present or former officer or employee of any claim, account,
demand or suit against the district on his or her own behalf or on behalf of
any member of his or her family arising out of any personal injury or
property damage or for any lawful benefit authorized or permitted by law. Distribution
of Code of Ethics The Superintendent of Schools shall cause a
copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to 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. Cross-ref: 1810, Gifts to School
Personnel 6700, Purchasing Ref: General Municipal Law ''806-808 Adopted
by B.O.E.:
Regulation 2160 NAME:___________________________________ WORK LOCATION:_______________________________ TITLE:___________________________________ LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS QUESTIONNAIRE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS: Board of Education
Regulation #2160 requires disclosure of any direct or indirect financial or
other interest affecting the Lawrence Public Schools by any School Board
member, Board employee or member of their immediate family. (For purposes of this regulation, immediate
family shall be defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent or parent-in-law.) 1) Individuals must report possible conflict as soon as
they have knowledge of their existence. 2) This form must be filed when a possible conflict of
interest arises, as described in Regulation #2160 Code of Ethics. 3) Employees shall file this form with their immediate
supervisor at their payroll location.
The form shall be placed by the employee in a sealed envelope
indicating on the front his/her name and title. DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS: Check YES or NO for each item. Whenever the answer is YES, give
particulars called for by writing legibly in Item 9 on the reverse of this
questionnaire. If the space on the
reverse is insufficient, additional sheets may be attached with you name on
the top and your signature underneath the material attached. In addition, all individuals will complete
Item 10 on the reverse of this questionnaire. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS______________________________________________________________________________________________ YES NO ( ) ( ) 1. Is a member of your family
employed by the Lawrence Public Schools in any capacity or serving as a member of the Board of Education? If YES, give particulars in Item 9 on the reverse. ( ) ( ) 2. Do you or a family member have
any direct or indirect interest in furnishing supplies or materials to the Lawrence Public Schools? If YES, give
particulars in Item 9 on the reverse. ( ) ( ) 3. Are you or a family member
employed or associated with a vendor doing work or labor in the Lawrence Public Schools? If YES, give particulars in Item 9 on the
reverse. ( ) ( ) 4. Do you or a family member have
any direct or indirect interest in the provision of professional
services as a consultant, independent contractor, etc. for the Public
Schools? If YES, give particulars in
Item 9 on the reverse. ( ) ( ) 5. Do you or a family member have
any direct or indirect interest in the sale or leasing of real estate in the Lawrence Public Schools? If YES, give particulars in Item 9 on the reverse. ( ) ( ) 6. Do you or a family member have
any direct or indirect interest in any proposal, agreement
or contract for any of the purposes listed in Items 2 through 5 above, or any other purpose for the Lawrence Public Schools? If YES, give particulars in Item
9 on the reverse. ( ) ( ) 7. Do you or a family member have
ownership in or relationship to, directly or indirectly, any
individual, single proprietorship, partnership or corporation of which you or
a family
member control five (5) percentum or more of the
stock of the corporation doing business with the Lawrence Public Schools? If YES, give particulars in Item 9 on the reverse. ( ) ( ) 8. Do you or a family member receive
directly or indirectly any income, reimbursements, gifts
or other items of compensation for services performed arising out of any
interest disclosed in Items 2 through 7 above. If YES, in Item 9, identify for whom
services were rendered, income
received and describe services rendered. IF
YOU HAVE ANSWERED YES TO ANY ITEM IN QUESTIONS #1 THROUGH #8, PLEASE ANSWER
ITEM #9 ON THE REVERSE. IF YOU HAVE
ANSWERED NO TO ALL ITEMS #1 THROUGH #8, PLEASE PROCEED DIRECTLY TO ITEM #10. -2- WARNING:
Willful failure to make full and timely disclosure shall constitute cause for
removal or any other disciplinary action or penalty as provided by law. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. If you have answered YES to any of the above
questions, please give details below.
If the space is insufficient,
additional sheets may be attached with your name at the top and your
signature underneath the materials attached. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. ALL INDIVIDUALS MUST FILL IN THE FOLLOWING AND SIGN THIS
FORM. The statements
in this document are complete and accurate. NAME:___________________________ ____________________________________ (Print) (Signature) ___________________________ ____________________________________ (Date) (Title) LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIPT OF CODE OF ETHICS REGULATION 2160 I, _______________________________________, have received and understand the copy of Regulation #2160 entitled Code of Ethics on ____________________________. (date) Signature:________________________________ Print Name:________________________________
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