| Brevard County (Florida) |
| Bylaws & Policies |
1210 - STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT
Members of the Board, administrators, teachers, and all other employees of the District, regardless of their position, collective bargaining status or role, because of their dual roles as public servants and educators are bound by the same ethics policy. The District's policy is designed to create a culture of honesty and integrity that will help the District meet the goal of providing a safe environment and high quality education to all of the Districts' students.
The purpose of this policy is to promote the highest level of ethical conduct on the part of all administrators associated with the District to ensure the highest public confidence in the impartiality and independent judgment of all administrators; and, to provide guidance for District personnel concerning ethics-related matters. It is the responsibility of all individuals associated with the District to act in a manner that will ensure the public's trust as well as the trust of colleagues and peers. Adherence to the provisions of a comprehensive ethics policy will model the highest standards of integrity and the character traits the District seeks to instill in our students.
To the extent there is no conflict with any laws, rules, or governmental regulations, this ethics policy shall control with regard to conduct for all administrators.
Administrators shall not engage in or have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any activity that conflicts, or raises a reasonable question of conflict, with their duties and responsibilities to the District. Administrators and certain other procurement personnel are required to file an Annual Financial Disclosure Statement with the State of Florida Commission on Ethics.
Administrators shall not corruptly use, or attempt to use, their official position or any property or resources of the District or perform their duties in such a manner to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for themselves or others.
Administrators shall not disclose or use information not available to members of the general public and gained by reason of their official position with the District for their own personal gain or benefit or for the personal gain or benefit of any other person or business entity.
Administrators shall not represent another person or entity for monetary compensation or consideration of any other type before the Board for a period of two (2) years following the end of their employment with the District, unless they are employed by another agency of State government.
Administrators may accept gifts of nominal value in circumstances not related to employment, service, or an act to influence judgment. Examples would be a personal gift for a birthday or holiday celebration or students presenting gifts to administrators during the holiday season.
Administrators shall employ independent objective judgment in performing their duties, deciding all matters on their merits, free of partiality or prejudice and unimpeded by conflicts of interest or other improper influences.
Administrators shall not engage in or have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any activity that conflicts, or raises a reasonable question of conflict, with their duties and responsibilities in the school system.
Administrators shall not engage in any business, private practice of their profession, the rendering of services, or the sale of goods of any type where advantage is taken of any professional relationship they may have with any other employee; any student or client; or the parents of any students or clients in the course of their employment with the District.
The Board hereby establishes the following as the standards of ethical conduct for all administrators in the District:
| A. | An administrator shall: |
| 1. | make a reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental and/or physical health and/or safety. | ||
| 2. | not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning. | ||
| 3. | not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view. | ||
| 4. | not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student’s academic program. | ||
| 5. | not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement. | ||
| 6. | not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights. | ||
| 7. | not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make reasonable efforts to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination. | ||
| 8. | not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage. | ||
| 9. | keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law. | ||
| 10. | take reasonable precautions to distinguish between personal views and those of any educational institution or organization with which the individual is affiliated. | ||
| 11. | not intentionally distort or misrepresent facts concerning an educational matter in direct or indirect public expression. | ||
| 12. | not use institutional privileges for personal gain or advantage. | ||
| 13. | accept no gratuity, gift, or favor that might influence professional judgment. | ||
| 14. | offer no gratuity, gift, or favor to obtain special advantages. | ||
| 15. | maintain honesty in all professional dealings. | ||
| 16. | not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization. | ||
| 17. | not interfere with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities. | ||
| 18. | not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interferes with an individual’s performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable efforts to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination. | ||
| 19. | not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague. | ||
| 20. | not use coercive means or promise special treatment to influence professional judgments of colleagues. | ||
| 21. | not misrepresent one’s own professional qualifications. | ||
| 22. | not submit fraudulent information on any document in connection with professional activities. | ||
| 23. | not make any fraudulent statement or fail to disclose a material fact in one’s own or another’s application for a professional position. | ||
| 24. | not withhold information regarding a position from an applicant or misrepresent an assignment or conditions of employment. | ||
| 25. | provide upon the request of a certificated individual a written statement of specific reason for recommendations that lead to the denial of increments, significant changes in employment, or termination of employment. | ||
| 26. | not assist entry into or continuance in the profession of any person known to be unqualified in accordance with these Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and other Florida statutes and State Board of Education rules. | ||
| 27. | self-report within forty-eight (48) hours to appropriate authorities (as determined by the District) any arrests/charges involving the abuse of a child or the sale and/or possession of a controlled substance. Such notice shall not be considered an admission of guilt nor shall such notice be admissible for any purpose in any proceeding, civil or criminal, administrative or judicial, investigatory or adjudicatory. In addition, administrators shall self-report any conviction, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication, commitment to a pre-trial diversion program, or entering of a plea of guilty or Nolo Contendere for any criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation within forty-eight (48) hours after the final judgment. When handling sealed and expunged records disclosed under this rule, school districts shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of F.S. 943.0585(4)(c) and 943.059(4)(c). | ||
| 28. | report to appropriate authorities any known allegation of a violation of the Florida School Code or State Board of Education rules as defined in F.S. 1012.795(1). | ||
| 29. | seek no reprisal against any individual who has reported any allegation of a violation of the Florida School Code or Sate Board of Education rules as defined in F.S. 1012.795(1). | ||
| 30. | comply with the conditions of an order of the Education Practices Commission imposing probation, imposing a fine, or restricting the authorized scope of practice. | ||
| 31. | as the supervising administrator, cooperate with the Education Practices Commission in monitoring the probation of a subordinate. |
| B. | All District administrators shall adhere to the principles enumerated above. |
All administrators shall be required to complete training on the standards established herein upon employment and annually thereafter.
Employees shall not hold outside employment which conflicts with their regularly assigned duties.
The Superintendent shall appoint members to an ethics panel and designate a District-wide Director of Ethics.
The Superintendent will direct that ethics and compliance training as well as other programs designed to promote the District's commitment to integrity and values as set forth in the District's organizational values and this policy be designed and implemented.
F.S. 112.313, 1001.42(6), 1012.23
F.A.C. 6B-1.001,
Revised 4/12/05
Revised 4/28/09