4310 - FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN NONINSTRUCTIONAL SETTINGS

Northern Buckeye Education Council

Bylaws & Policies

4310 - FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN NONINSTRUCTIONAL SETTINGS

The Board of Directors acknowledges the right of its staff members, as citizens in a democratic society, to speak out on issues of public concern. When those issues are related to the Council, however, the staff member's expression must be balanced against the interests of this Council.

The following guidelines are adopted by the Board to help clarify and, therefore, avoid situations in which the staff member's expression could conflict with the Council's interests. In such situations, s/he should:

	A.	state clearly that his/her expression represents personal views and not necessarily those of the Council;
	B.	refrain from expressions that would disrupt harmony among co-workers or interfere with the maintenance of discipline by Council officials;
	C.	not make threats or abusive or personally defamatory comments about co-workers, administrators, or officials of the Council;
	D.	refrain from making public expressions which s/he knows to be false or are made without regard for truth or accuracy.