SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER CODE OF ETHICS/CONDUCT

When deciding upon whom to vote for in the upcoming election for school committee members, it is important to be aware of the school committee’s own policy on its members.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER CODE OF ETHICS/CONDUCT
PURPOSE:
This policy herewith establishes the code of basic principles and ethical standards for
members of the North Kingstown School Committee acting individually and collectively as the
School Committee in the management of the public schools of North Kingstown.
PHILOSOPHY:
The school committee in North Kingstown accepts the obligation to operate the public
schools in accordance with the fundamental principles and standards of school management.
POLICY STATEMENT:
The fundamental principles and standards of school management that are to be followed
by the North Kingstown School Committee shall include, but not necessarily be limited to those
as stated hereafter.

  1. Formulate written policy for the administration of schools to be reviewed regularly and revised as necessary.
  2. Exercise legislative, policy-making, planning and appraising functions and delegate administrative functions in the operation of schools.
  3. Recognize their critical responsibility for selecting the Superintendent, defining his/her responsibilities, and evaluating his/her performance regularly without directly engaging in administrative processes.
  4. Accept and encourage a variety of opinions from and communication with all parts of the community.
  5. Make public relevant institutional information in order to promote communication and understanding between the school system and the community.
  6. Act on legislative and policy-making matters only after examining pertinent facts and considering the Superintendent’s recommendations.
  7. Conduct meetings with planned and published agendas. Establish and maintain procedural steps for resolving complaints and criticisms of school affairs.
  8. Act only through public meetings since individual board members have no authority to bind the board.
  9. Recognize that the first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the public schools.
  10. Work with other committee members to establish effective board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the schools to the Superintendent.
  11. Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using the committee position for personal gain.
  12. Attend all regularly scheduled committee meetings insofar as possible, and become informed concerning the issues to be considered at those meetings.

Approved: First Reading – April 2, 1996 Second Reading/Adoption – May 7, 1996;
Amended: 9/25/02