BOARD MEMBER'S CODE OF CONDUCT

As a member of the Board of Education, representing all the citizens of the City and Borough of Juneau, I recognize:

a. that I have been entrusted with the educational development of the children and youth of this District;

b. that the public expects my first and greatest concern to be the best interests of each and every one of these young people without distinction as to their ability, race, creed, domicile, or economic status; 

c. that the future welfare of our community, our state, and our nation depends, in large measure, upon the quality of education provided by the public schools;

d. that the people of our community have a right to know all of the facts about their schools; and,

e. that I must never neglect my personal obligation to the District and my legal obligation to the state, nor surrender my responsibilities to any other person, group, or organization.

In view of the foregoing, I will constantly endeavor:

a. to devote time, thought, and study to my duties and responsibilities as a Board member so that I may render effective and credible service;

b. to keep myself informed about current educational issues by being actively involved in individual study, by participating in programs provided by the District, and by taking advantage of any other opportunities for self-improvement that may arise;

c. to welcome and encourage active participation by citizens, organizations, and the media with respect to establishing policy on current school operations and proposed future developments;

d. to work with my fellow Board members in a spirit of harmony and cooperation in spite of differences of opinion that may, from time to time, arise during vigorous debate of points at issue;

e. to ensure that those most directly affected by Board decisions have been consulted and that opportunities have been presented for those individuals to share their points of view;

f. to base my personal decisions on all available facts in each situation, and to vote my honest conviction; and, thereafter, to graciously abide by and uphold decisions reached by the majority of the Board;

g. to remember that each individual board member exercises the authority and responsibility of his or her position only when the Board is in legal session, to wit: 

I will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the Board and the Board will not be bound in any way by any statement or action that I may make, except when such promise or action is pursuant to the specific instructions of the Board;

h. to strive to represent the Board to the public in a discerning and statesmanlike manner, to wit:

if questioned about a matter on which policy has been clearly defined I will answer based on policy;

 

if approached about a matter on which the Board has no established policy, I will commit myself to discuss the matter with the Superintendent or other appropriate administrator, and/or to present it to the Board for consideration;

 

if I am approached with a complaint about the operations of the District or the performance of District staff, I will refer such matters to the appropriate administrator in accordance with the Board's communication protocol and may discuss such complaints at a regular meeting after administrative solutions have been pursued; 

i. to refrain from using, or advocating or causing the use of, public funds (including District funds, facilities, materials, equipment, or staff) to promote partisan activities in connection with any election affecting a candidacy for public office, or with respect to any ballot referendum or initiative, specifically including any proposition for the issuance of bonds to support School District activities;

j. to resist every temptation and outside pressure to use my position as a Board member to benefit either myself or any other individual or agency apart from the total interests of the students of the District;

k. to recognize that it is as important for the Board to understand and evaluate the educational program of the schools as it is to plan for the business of school operation;

l. to confine my actions to policy making, planning, and evaluation and to recognize that the Superintendent, not the Board, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the schools and the supervision of the District's staff;

m. to respect the confidentiality of privileged information; and,

n. to strive to appoint the best professional leader available when a vacancy exists in the Superintendent's position and, thereafter, to support the Superintendent in the proper performance of his or her duties.

Finally, I will strive to remain true to my Oath of Office and to provide effective service to my community, in a spirit of teamwork, cooperation, and devotion to public education.