The Board of Education expects all its employees to be honest and ethical in their conduct, and to comply with applicable State and Federal law, Board policies and administrative guidelines. The Board encourages staff to report possible violations of these Board expectations to their immediate supervisors.

It is the responsibility of an employee who is aware of conduct on the part of any Board member or employee that possibly violates Federal or State law, or Board policy, to call this conduct to the attention of his/her immediate supervisor. If the employee's immediate supervisor is not responsive or is the employee whose behavior is in question, the employee may report to the Superintendent. If the reported conduct relates to the Superintendent, the report may be filed directly with the Board President.

The Board of Education encourages employees to include their name in any report, but an employee may also make an anonymous report. The Board encourages an employee to include his or her name because appropriate follow-up questions in an investigation may not be possible unless the source of the information is identified. If a verbal report is made, the immediate supervisor may ask that employee to put his or her report in writing. Each report should provide as much information as possible, sufficient to facilitate a thorough investigation, including where and when the incident occurred, names and titles of the individuals involved and as much other detail as possible.

Any employee making such a report shall be protected from discipline, retaliation, or reprisal for making such report as long as the employee made a reasonable and good faith effort, as judged by the Board, to determine the accuracy of any information reported. Employees are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for purposely, knowingly, or recklessly making a false report under this policy. Additionally, employees are also subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for making a false report under this policy that is intended to harass or otherwise interfere with another employee. Conversely, employees are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, if they are aware of a violation of Federal, State, or local law that the Board has the authority to correct and they do not make a report confirmed in writing to their immediate supervisor.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines necessary for implementation of this policy, including the development of forms upon which such reports may be made.

Adopted 1/13/09