6110 - Code of Ethics for All District Personnel

Policy: Code of Ethics for All District Personnel	Policy Number: 6110
Date of Original Policy: 07/14/2015	Date Revision Adopted: 07/08/2020
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 06/17/2020	Date of Next Review: 04/26/2023
Replacement of Policy Number:

General Provisions

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 806 of the General Municipal Law, the Board of Education of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District recognizes that there are rules of ethical conduct for members of the Board and employees of the District that must be observed if a high degree of moral conduct is to be obtained in our unit of local government. It is the purpose of this resolution to promulgate these rules of ethical conduct for employees of the District. These rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the employees of the District. The rules of ethical conduct of this resolution, as adopted, shall not conflict with, but shall be in addition to any prohibition of Article Eighteen of the General Municipal Law or any other general or special law relating to ethical conduct and interest in contracts of employees.  
 
Standards of Conduct
 
Every employee of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District shall be subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:  

Gifts
 
*Pursuant to Section 805-a of the General Municipal Law, he/she shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit any gift or accept or receive any gift having a value of seventy-five dollars ($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 or expected to influence him/her in the performance of official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his/her part.
 
Confidential Information
 
He/she shall not disclose confidential information acquired by him/her in the course of his/her official duties or use such information to further his/her personal interest, or obtain an advantage for friend and/or supporters. Confidential information includes information protected by law and/or information obtained in Executive sessions (if invited) of the Board or its committees. To ensure the confidentiality of information obtained, executive sessions will not be taped, nor will the information obtained by reduced to any of form of writing. 

Representation before one's own agency
 
He/she shall not receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any municipal agency of which he/she is an officer, member or employee or of any municipal agency over which he/she has jurisdiction or to which he/she has the power to appoint any member, officer or employee. 
 
Representation before any agency for a contingent fee
 
He/she shall not receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any agency of his/her municipality, whereby his/her compensation is to be dependent or contingent upon any action by such agency 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 services rendered.  
 
Disclosure of interest in resolution
 
To the extent that he/she knows thereof, an employee of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Board of Education on any resolution before the Board of Education shall publicly disclose on the official record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial or other private interest he/she, such as a personal relationship with respect to the matter under discussion.   
 
Investments in conflict with official duties
 
He/she shall not invest or hold any investment directly or indirectly in any financial, business, commercial, or other private transaction, that creates a conflict with his/her official duties, unless permitted by law. Education law § 3016 requires a two thirds vote by the Board to employ a teacher that is related by blood or marriage to a School Board Member. The two thirds vote requirement does not apply or have an effect on the continued employment of a tenured teacher who is hired before his/her relative is elected or appoint to the School Board.
 
Private employment
 
He/she shall not engage in, solicit, negotiate for or promise to accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service creates a conflict with or impairs the proper discharge of his/her official duties. 
 
Legal Remedies
 
Nothing herein shall be deemed to bar or prevent the timely filing by a present or former employee of any claim, account, demand or suit against the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District, or any agency thereof on behalf of himself/herself or any member of his/her family arising out of any personal injury or property damage or for any lawful benefit authorized or permitted by law.
 
Distribution/Posting of Code of Ethics
 
The Superintendent of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District shall cause a copy of this code of ethics to be distributed to every Board member and employee of the School District within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this resolution.  Each employee appointed thereafter shall be furnished a copy before entering upon the duties of his/her employment. The Superintendent shall also cause a copy of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law to be kept posted in each building in the District in a place conspicuous to its employees. Failure to distribute any such copy of this code of ethics or failure of any employee to receive such copy, as well as failure to post any such copy of General Municipal Law, Article 18, shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with such code or Article 18, nor with the enforcement of provisions thereof.
 
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 this code may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.
 
 
Education Law Section 410
General Municipal Law Article 18
Labor Law 201-d