BCA-BOARD MEMBER CODE OF ETHICS

File: BCA

BOARD MEMBER CODE OF ETHICS

Having accepted the challenge of service on the MSAD #11 School Board members also accept the principles set forth in the following Code of Ethics to guide them in helping to provide the best possible education for each child in the District.

Boards of education are more than a collection of individuals elected to represent a specific segment of the District. They function as a group. All policies and decisions are group decisions. Therefore, effective functioning requires an awareness on the part of each member of his/her responsibilities to the group. The MSAD #11 Board expects all of its members will:

A. Endeavor to attend every regular and special MSAD #11 Board meeting, recognizing that their presence means better discussions and decisions, as well as representation for their municipality;

B. Recognize that their responsibility is not to operate the schools but to see that they are well operated;

C. Confine their MSAD #11 Board action to policymaking, planning, and appraisal, leaving the administration of the schools to the school Superintendent;

D. Support MSAD #11 Board decisions graciously once they have been made by the majority of the MSAD #11 Board;

E. Make decisions only after all facts bearing on a question have been presented and discussed;

F. Refuse to make promises as to how they will vote on a matter that should properly come before the MSAD #11 Board as a whole;

G. Make no disparaging remarks, in or out of MSAD #11 Board meetings, about other members of the MSAD #11 Board or their opinions;

H. Not discuss the confidential business of the MSAD #11 Board in their homes, on the streets, or in their offices - the place for such discussion being the MSAD #11 School Board meeting;

I. Remember at all times that as individuals they have no legal authority outside the meetings of the MSAD #11 Board, and that they will conduct their relationships with the school staff, the local citizenry, and all media of communications on the basis of this fact;

J. At all times think of children first and base their decisions on how they will affect children, their education, and their training;

K. Endeavor at all times to see that schools have adequate financial support within the capabilities of the community and state, in order that every child may receive the best possible education;

L. Welcome and encourage cooperation and participation by teachers, administrators, and other personnel in developing policies that affect their welfare and that of the children they serve;

M. Listen to all citizens and handle all complaints in accordance with established MSAD #11 Board policies and publicly discuss such complaints only at a regular meeting;

N. Recognize and willingly accept their role as an advocate in the community for public education and provide leadership in communicating the importance of public education to the community's future growth;

O. Endeavor to participate in MSAD #11 Board-related programs of professional development that will help them to more effectively meet their responsibilities to the community and to the MSAD #11 Board;

P. Come to all meetings fully prepared to conduct the MSAD #11 Board's business by reading, studying, and gathering information relevant to that business; and

Q. Recognize that the nature of the business of the MSAD #11 Board is to seek different viewpoints and to legitimately and fairly represent these differences in setting policy. Therefore, members will respect the differing opinions and points of view represented by their fellow MSAD #11 board members and will work on preventing these differences from creating interpersonal conflicts.

Cross Reference: BCB - Board Member Conflicts of Interest
Adopted: Prior to 1985
Revised: June 5, 1986; November 1, 1990; October 1, 1992; June 15, 2006