220: Trustee Code of Conduct
1.0 POLICY
The Board of Trustees is committed to Public Education and its Trustee members shall conduct themselves ethically and responsibly in carrying out the duties that they have been elected to fulfill. It is expected that all interactions related to the operations of the Board is characterized by mutual respect, which acknowledges the dignity and worth of all individuals.
2.0 GUIDELINES
2.1 Board Oath of Office
Every Trustee shall take and subscribe to the official oath prescribed by the Oaths of Office Act before commencing his/her duties and shall deposit the oath with the Secretary of the Board.
2.2 Code of Ethics
The Board’s Code of Ethics (found in Appendix A) will be read aloud at an appropriate time during the Annual Organization Meeting.
2.3 Code of Conduct
2.3.1 Trustees for Sturgeon Public Schools shall conduct themselves in an ethical and prudent manner which includes proper use of authority and appropriate decorum in group and individual behavior. Each Trustee shall behave in a manner that demonstrates respect for the dignity and worth of all individuals.
2.3.2 Trustees shall carry out their responsibilities as outlined in Policy 221 with diligence.
2.3.3 Trustees shall endeavor to work collaboratively with fellow Board members to further the work of the Board.
2.3.4 Trustees shall be loyal to the interests of Sturgeon Public Schools. This loyalty supersedes loyalty to the personal interest of any Trustee whether acting as an individual consumer of the School Division’s services or not.
2.3.5 Trustees must be mindful of the fact that they are accountable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of their office honestly and in good faith. To this end, Trustees shall exercise the degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
2.3.6 Trustees shall avoid any conflict of interest with respect to their pecuniary interests:
2.3.6.1 By understanding pecuniary interest in a matter before the Board, as defined in the Education Act (S85).
2.3.6.2 By filing with the Board’s secretary, a disclosure of interest statement as required by the Education Act (S.86), and updating forthwith if changes occur,
2.3.6.3 By complying with the Education Act (S88) which may involve the disclosure of pecuniary interest and/or abstaining from voting on the matter, and/or refraining from discussing the matter, and/or leaving the room while discussion occurs.
2.3.7 Trustees shall avoid any conflict of interest or personal bias with respect to their fiduciary responsibility owed to Sturgeon Public Schools. Each Trustee shall, in considering any matter, determine whether he/she has a conflict of interest or personal bias requiring him/her to recuse him/herself from addressing a particular matter before the Board of Trustees. In making the determination respecting conflict of interest or personal bias each Trustee shall consider the following:
2.3.7.1 Whether a reasonably well-informed person would conclude that the Trustee has a substantial personal interest in the matter;
2.3.7.2 The Trustee’s interest in the subject matter of the vote must go beyond that which he or she may have in common with other members of the community;
2.3.7.3 The Trustee’s interest in the matter must be something that will serve his or her own personal ends; and
2.3.7.4 Where there is such an interest it must be so related to the subject matter of the vote before the Board of Trustees that a reasonably well-informed person would conclude that the interest may well influence the Trustee’s vote and exercise of his or her public duty.
2.3.8 Trustees shall observe confidentiality regarding information received as Trustees.
2.3.8.1 According to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), all information a Trustee receives regarding the School Board’s mandate and functions are considered records under the control of the School Board. All records containing personal information about an identifiable individual such as employee information, student information or information in letters to the School Board, must be kept confidential and may only be released in accordance with FOIP. Employee information, student information or information in letters to the School Board must be kept confidential and may only be released in accordance with FOIP. Information received by individual Trustees in their capacity as trustees must also be processed and treated in accordance with FOIP.
2.3.8.2 Trustees shall not use Board information for their own direct benefit or advantage. This requires that Board deliberations during in-camera or closed board planning meetings be kept confidential as required by law.
2.4 Violation of Code of Conduct
2.4.1 A Trustee who believes that a fellow Trustee has violated the Code of Conduct may seek resolution of the matter through appropriate conciliatory measures prior to commencing an official complaint under the Code of Conduct.
2.4.2 If a resolution is not achieved and a complaint is to be filed, the complaint process is found in Appendix B.
References:
Policies:
225: Role of the Board
235: Board Operations
Administrative Procedure 717: Workplace Violence and Harassment
Education Act: Sections 64, 85, 86, 87, 88, 256
Board Procedures Regulation 82/2019
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Oaths of Office Act, 2014
History
2019 Jan 30 Initial Approval
2020 Jan 29 Reviewed
2022 Feb 23 Reviewed
2022 Mar 23 Amended
Board Policies II. School Board Governance and Operations