Code of Ethics for School Board Members
The National School Boards Association Board endorses the following code for local school board members.
As a member of my local Board of Education, I will strive to improve public education, and to that end I will:
- Attend all regularly scheduled board meetings insofar as possible and become informed concerning the issues to be considered at those meetings;
- Recognize that I should endeavor to make policy decisions only after full discussion at publicly held board meetings;
- Render all decisions based on the available facts and my independent judgment and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special-interest groups;
- Encourage the free expression of opinion by all board members and seek systematic communications between the board and students, staff and all elements of the community;
- Work with other board members to establish effective board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the schools to the superintendent;
- Communicate to other board members and the superintendent expression of public reaction to board policies and school programs;
- Inform myself about current educational issues by individual study and through participation in programs providing needed information, such as those sponsored by my state and national school boards association;
- Support the employment of those persons best qualified to serve as school staff, and insist on a regular and impartial evaluation of all staff;
- Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest;
- Take no private action that will compromise the board or administration and respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law; and
- Remember always that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the public schools.
Policy History:
Approved by the Board April 19, 1979
Reviewed and Approved by the Board February 2, 1996
Reviewed and Approved by the Board November 10, 1999
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