File: GBEA - Staff Ethics/Conflict of Interest File: GBEA - Staff Ethics/Conflict of InterestSummit School District is committed to ensuring its personnel shall carry out their duties in a professional, objective and ethical fashion to create a work environment in which conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest are identified, minimized and appropriately managed.
Financial Conflict of Interest:
1. Financial Interest. No District employee shall engage in or have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any activity that conflicts or raises a reasonable question of conflict with his or her duties and responsibilities in the school system. Employees are expected to perform the duties of the position to which they are assigned and to observe rules of conduct and ethical principles established by state law and district policies and regulations.
2. Sales. An employee shall not sell any books, instructional supplies, musical instruments, equipment or other school supplies to any student or to the parents/guardian of a student who attends the school served by the employee unless prior approval has been obtained from the Board.
3. Access to Monies. An individual may not audit, verify, receive or be entrusted with monies received or handled by a member of the employee's immediate family or an individual with whom she/he has a consensual, romantic relationship.
Data Confidentiality Conflict of Interest:
1. Data Sharing. It is understood that all confidential information an employee receives or is privy to as a result of district employment shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed to any other person, family member, employee or third party unless permitted by FERPA, state law or other Board policy. In addition, employees shall not utilize information solely available to them through school sources to engage in any type of work outside of the District. This includes information concerning students, staff, or employees.
2. Data Access. An employee shall not have access to the employer's confidential information concerning a member of the employee's immediate family or an individual with whom she/he has a consensual, romantic relationship with, including payroll and personnel records.
Personal Relationship Conflict of Interest:
1. Student. An adult employee shall not engage in dating relationships with any student in the district. Close personal relationships with a student can be expected to raise questions of ethics and conflict of interest that will be investigated by the employee's direct supervisor and may result in dismissal.
2. Protocols. To avoid a conflict of interest, the district prohibits an employee from exercising direct supervisory authority over:
a. a member of the employee's immediate family. For purposes of this policy, an employee's "immediate family" includes his or her spouse, children and parents.
b. an individual that she/he has a current or previous consensual, romantic, intimate or sexual relationship.
i. Instances of a romantic, intimate or sexual relationship in which a party has a direct supervisory or evaluative role over another party has the potential to create a conflict of interest. Therefore, the district requires that the employee in the supervisor/evaluative role (thus exercising authority over the employee) report the consensual relationship to the Superintendent.
ii. Within 10 days of receipt of any report of a consensual relationship, the Superintendent shall review the situation and circumstances to determine appropriate action to mitigate any potential conflicts of interest taking into account potential adverse impacts on other staff members, students or the community.
Failure to comply with this policy shall result in appropriate disciplinary action.
Adopted June 14, 1983
Revised November 10, 1987
Revised August 22, 1995
Revised: January 8, 2003
Revised: June 28, 2018
Adopted June 14, 1983
Revised November 10, 1987
Revised August 22, 1995
Revised: January 8, 2003
Revised: May 17, 2018
LEGAL REFS.: Constitution of Colorado, Article X, Section 13 (felony to make a profit on public funds)
C.R.S. 14-15-101 et seq. (Colorado Civil Union Act)
C.R.S. 22-63-204 (teachers receiving money for items sold to students/parents without written consent from Board)
C.R.S. 24-18-109 (government rules of conduct)
C.R.S. 24-18-110 (voluntary disclosure)
C.R.S. 24-18-201 (standards of conduct - interests in contracts)
C.R.S. 24-18-202 (standards of conduct - interests in sales)
C.R.S. 24-34-402 (1) (discriminatory and unfair employment practices)
C.R.S. 24-34-402 (1)(h) (nepotism provisions)
CROSS REFS.: DKC, Expense Authorization/Reimbursement (Mileage and Travel)
GBEB, Staff Conduct
GCE/GCF, Professional Staff Recruiting/Hiring
GDE/GDF, Support Staff Recruiting/Hiring
GCQF, Discipline, Suspension and Dismissal of Professional Staff (And Contract Nonrenewal)
GDE/GDF, Support Staff Recruiting/Hiring
GDQD, Discipline, Suspension and Dismissal of Support Staff