BOARD MEMBERS: ETHICS

• I will be fair, just, and impartial in all my decisions and actions.
• I will accord others the respect I wish for myself.
• I will encourage expressions of different opinions and listen with an open mind to others' ideas.

• I will be accountable to the public by representing District policies, programs, priorities, and progress accurately.
• I will be responsive to the community by seeking its involvement in District affairs and by communicating its priorities and concerns.
• I will work to ensure prudent and accountable use of District resources.
• I will make no personal promise or take private action that may compromise my performance or my responsibilities.

• I will tell the truth.
• I will share my views while working for consensus.
• I will respect the majority decision as the decision of the Board.
• I will base my decisions on fact rather than supposition, opinion, or public favor.

• I will refuse to surrender judgment to any individual or group at the expense of the District as a whole.
• I will consistently uphold all applicable laws, rules, policies, and governance procedures.
• I will not disclose information that is confidential by law or that will needlessly harm the District if disclosed.

• I will focus my attention on fulfilling the Board's responsibilities of goal setting, policymaking, and evaluation.
• I will diligently prepare for and attend Board meetings.
• I will avoid personal involvement in activities the Board has delegated to the Superintendent.
• I will seek continuing education that will enhance my ability to fulfill my duties effectively.

• I will be continuously guided by what is best for all students of the District.

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BOARD MEMBER RULES OF CONDUCT

The following guidelines apply:

1. Board members shall follow Board policy and will abide by the decisions of the Board as a whole. [See BBE]
2. Board members shall not take individual actions that compromise the District, the Board, or the administration. Board members recognize that they are only authorized to take action in an official capacity as a member of the Board as a whole, or when delegated authority by the Board as a whole.
3. Board members shall not represent to anyone that they, as individuals, have any authority to act on behalf of the Board, the District, or the administration, unless expressly authorized by the Board to do so.
4. Board members shall respect the role of the administration and not encroach on administrative duties or attempt to micromanage the affairs of the District.
5. Board members shall refer to the Superintendent any and all complaints received from citizens, including students, parents, and employees, where any action by the administration may be required.
6. Board members shall not try to solve complaints or grievances individually, except that they may counsel patrons or employees who inquire as to the correct procedure to be followed for the resolution of complaints or grievances. [See BED, DGBA, FNG, and GF]
7. Board members shall not individually conduct investigations of complaints by citizens, including students, parents, and employees. In the event a Board member receives a complaint or has concerns regarding any employee other than the Superintendent, the Board member shall first refer the matter to the Superintendent, and then, if dissatisfied with the response of the Superintendent, may bring the matter to the attention of the Board, as a whole, in closed meeting. If a Board member receives a complaint or has concerns regarding the Superintendent, the member shall notify the Superintendent and/or the Board President and, if dissatisfied with the response, or if the member otherwise believes it to be necessary, may bring the matter to the attention of the Board, as a whole, in closed meeting at a properly posted meeting. Any decision to conduct an investigation, and the manner in which an investigation is to be conducted, shall rest with the Superintendent or the Board, for matters relating to employees other than the Superintendent, and with the Board for matters relating to the Superintendent. Any recommendations for proposed personnel action shall be in accordance with Texas Education Code Chapter 21.
8. Board members shall not circumvent the Superintendent and communicate with the staff about any matter within the purview of the Superintendent without first informing and obtaining the approval of the Board. This does not mean that Board members are not free to communicate directly with staff members. However, Board members shall apprise the Superintendent and the Board of any such communication any time they are requested to do so, and any time such communication concerns a problem or complaint regarding the administration of the District on the individual campuses.
9. Board members shall not conduct meetings with personnel during regular duty hours without first notifying the Board, the Superintendent, or the building principal (or supervisor of the facility where the employee works) prior to the time such meeting is scheduled.
10. Individual Board members shall not directly communicate with vendors or bidders regarding any school business without the express prior authorization of the Board.
11. Board members shall not individually undertake to observe the performance of employees, including classroom teachers, for the purposes of evaluating performance.
12. Board members shall not reprimand staff nor provide direction to staff, including the Superintendent, outside the confines of a Board meeting.
13. Board members shall not attempt to exert pressure or influence on staff in order to coerce staff into making particular recommendations or decisions.
14. Board members shall not place themselves in a position that may present a conflict of interest or that may bring into question the impartiality of the Board. In this regard, Board members shall be cognizant of the fact that they may be called upon to sit as final arbiters in connection with grievances filed by employees or patrons, as well as due process hearings.
15. Board members shall not conduct individual interviews with prospective employees.
16. Board members shall be honest with other members of the Board concerning all actions taken by the members outside the confines of a Board meeting that concerns or relates to the business of the District.
17. Board members shall endeavor to be informed about the requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act and shall seek to comply with this law at all times. Questions regarding compliance, including questions regarding the postings of matters on Board agendas, shall be addressed to the Superintendent or Board President as early as possible.

Under normal circumstances, violations of the above guidelines will result in a warning to the individual Board member by the Board as a whole. For repeated violations, or for violations that the Board determines to be sufficiently egregious to warrant more severe action, the Board may initiate a complaint with the Texas Education Agency or appropriate law enforcement, or in extreme situations, may pursue legal action against an individual Board member in order to protect the District and the Board from unnecessary exposure to legal liability.

After each Board election in which new Board member(s) are elected, these guidelines shall be brought before the Board for a vote of affirmation so that each Board member is aware of the existence of the guidelines, the duty to follow the guidelines, and the potential consequences of a failure to abide by the guidelines.

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