Code of Ethics

Posted onAuthorThe Journey School

209 CODE OF ETHICS

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to assist the individual The Journey School (TJS) Board member in understanding his or her role as part of a school board and in recognizing the contribution that each member must make to develop an effective and responsible school board.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

Each TJS Board member shall follow the code of ethics stated in this policy.

A. AS A MEMBER OF THE TJS BOARD, I WILL:

  1. Attend school board meetings.
  2. Come to the meetings prepared for discussion of the agenda items.
  3. Listen to the opinions and views of others (including, but not limited to, other TJS Board members, administration, staff, students, and community members).
  4. Vote my conscience after informed discussion, unless I abstain because a conflict of interest exists.
  5. Support the decision of the TJS Board, even if my position concerning the issue was different.
  6. Recognize the integrity of my predecessors and associates and appreciate their work.
  7. Be primarily motivated by a desire to provide the best possible education for the students of the school.
  8. Inform myself about the proper duties and functions of a school board member.

B. IN PERFORMING THE PROPER FUNCTIONS OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I WILL:

  1. Focus on education policy as much as possible.
  2. Consider myself a trustee of public education and do my best to protect, conserve, and advance its progress.
  3. Recognize that my responsibility, exercised through the actions of the TJS Board as a whole, is to see that the schools are properly run – not to run them myself.
  4. Work through the Director – not over or around the Director.
  5. Delegate the implementation of TJS Board decisions to the Director.

C. TO MAINTAIN RELATIONS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, I WILL:

  1. Respect the rights of others to have and express opinions.
  2. Recognize that authority rests with the TJS Board in legal session – not with the individual members of the Board except as authorized by law.
  3. Make no disparaging remarks, in or out of TJS Board meetings, about other members of the Board or their opinions.
  4. Keep an open mind about how I will vote on any proposition until the TJS Board has met and fully discussed the issue.
  5. Make decisions by voting in school board meetings after all sides of debatable questions have been presented.

D. IN MEETING MY RESPONSIBILITIES TO MY COMMUNITY, I WILL:

  1. Attempt to appraise and plan for both the present and future educational needs of the school.
  2. Attempt to obtain adequate financial support for school programs.
  3. Insist that business transactions of TJS be ethical and open.
  4. Interpret the needs and attitudes of the community and do my best
    to translate them into the educational program of the school.
  5. Consider it an important responsibility to interpret the educational program of the school as it relates to the needs of the community.

E. IN WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR AND STAFF, I WILL:

  1. Hold the Director responsible for the administration of the school.
  2. Give the Director authority commensurate with his or her responsibilities.
  3. Assure that TJS will be administered by the best professional personnel available.
  4. Consider the recommendation of the Director in hiring all employees.
  5. Participate in TJS Board action after considering the recommendation of the Director and only after the Director has furnished adequate information supporting the recommendation.
  6. Insist the Director keep the TJS Board adequately informed at all times.
  7. Offer the Director counsel and advice.
  8. Recognize the status of the Director as the chief executive officer and a non-voting, ex officio member of the TJS Board.
  9. Refer all complaints to the proper administrative officer or insist that they be presented in writing to the whole TJS Board for proper referral according to the chain of command.
  10. Present any personal criticisms of employees to the Director.
  11. Provide support for the Director and employees of the school so they may perform their proper functions on a professional level.

F. IN FULFILLING MY LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I WILL:

  1. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws relating to my work as a school board member.
  2. Comply with all TJS policies as adopted by the TJS Board.
  3. Abide by all rules and regulations as promulgated by the Minnesota Department of Education and other state and federal agencies with jurisdiction over schools.
  4. Recognize that school business may be legally transacted only in an open meeting of the TJS Board.
  5. Avoid conflicts of interest and refrain from using my TJS Board position for personal gain.
  6. Take no private action that will compromise the TJS Board or administration.
  7. Guard the confidentiality of information that is protected under applicable law.