FILE: BH
SCHOOL BOARD ETHICS
Recognizing that as a member of a public school board and that each St. Martin Parish School Board member is filling a position of public trust, responsibility, and authority endowed by the State of Louisiana, the St. Martin Parish School Board, individually and collectively, shall subscribe to the principles of the Louisiana School Boards Association, by which a school board member should be guided.
In addition, certain actions of elected officials may be considered improper, and in some circumstances, illegal. Actions which may present a conflict of interest, acceptance of gifts, or solicitations, or gratuities, abuse of authority of office or position, and decisions regarding the employment of a family member of an official are all subject to statutory restrictions. The ethical conduct of School Board members, as well as other designated officials, shall be in accordance with state law.
FEDERAL GUIDELINES: CONFLICT OF INTEREST
In addition to other ethics provisions, in receiving federal funds the School Board shall ensure compliance with federal guidelines covering conflict of interest and governing the actions of officers and employees engaged in the selection, award and administration of contracts. No employee, officer, or agent shall participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by federal funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest would be involved. Such a conflict may arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in, or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the School Board shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to contracts.
Employees and volunteers shall be required to report any actual, possible, or perceived conflict of interest which they or others have, or may have, to their immediate supervisor as soon as they become aware of the conflict. A School Board member shall report the perceived conflict of interest to the Superintendent and School Board attorney.
Anyone who engages in activities that violate these provisions, including failure to disclose a conflict of interest, may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment, and/or other appropriate sanctions.
Revised: January 6, 2016
Ref: 2 CFR 200.318 (General Procurement Standards)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:428, 42:62, 42:1101, 42:1102, 42:1112, 42:1115, 42:1115.1, 42:1116, 42:1119, 42:1120, 42:1121, 42:1123, 42:1170
Board minutes, 1-6-16
St. Martin Parish School Board