All school system employees hold positions of public trust.  They are responsible for the education of students and also serve as examples and role models to students. Each employee is responsible for both the integrity and the consequences of his or her own actions. The highest standards of honesty, integrity, and fairness must be exhibited by each employee when engaging in any activity concerning the school system, particularly in relationships with vendors, suppliers, students, parents, the public, and other employees.  Employee conduct should be such as to protect both the person’s integrity and/or reputation and that of the school system.  An unswerving commitment to honorable behavior by each and every employee is expected.  Integrity can accommodate the inadvertent error and the honest difference of opinion; it cannot accommodate deceit or subordination of principle.

Employees shall perform their jobs in a competent and ethical manner without violating either the public trust or applicable law, policies, and regulations.  It is not practical or possible to enumerate all of the situations that might fall under the guidelines of this policy.  In addition to other policies, regulations, and approved practices that have been established covering specific areas of activity, (such as purchasing), the absence of a law, policy, or regulation covering a particular situation does not relieve an employee from the responsibility to exercise the highest ethical standards at all times.

2305.1 3005.1 4005.1 

Conflict of Interest: - The following acts are deemed by state law and/or the board of education to be in conflict with the interests of the Wake County Public School System.

A.

An employee shall not for personal financial gain solicit or sell or have any pecuniary (financial) interest in the supplying of any goods, wares, merchandise materials, supplies, services, or equipment to the Wake County Public School System.  Approved extended employment shall not be a violation of this.

B.

An employee shall not, for personal financial gain, solicit or sell or have any pecuniary (financial) interest in the sale of any goods, wares, merchandise, materials, supplies, equipment, or services to students or employees of this school system at school, on school premises, or any Wake County Public School System facility.

C.

An employee shall not act as an agent for any manufacturer, merchant, dealer, publisher, or author seeing to sell any goods, wares, merchandise, materials, supplies, services, or equipment to the Wake County Public School System.

D.

An employee shall not receive or accept any gift, reward, gratuity, or other compensation from any manufacturer, merchant, dealer, publisher, or author for influencing or recommending to the school system or any school that it use a seller=s goods, wares, merchandise, materials, supplies, services, or equipment.

E.

An employee shall not use for personal financial gain, any school facilities, supplies, equipment, or student labor (student labor during regular school hours), in the manufacture, creation, or repair of any goods, wares, or merchandise for sale or for the providing of services to the general public.  However, this provision shall not prohibit the renting of school facilities to school employees in accordance with Community Schools’ policies and regulations.

F.

Except as allowed by State Law (G.S. 14-234, 143-58.1), no employee shall use the powers, policies, and procedures of the State’s Division of Purchase and Contract or the school system’s Purchasing Division to purchase or procure any property or service for private use or benefit.

2305.2 3005.2 4005.2

Nepotism - No employee shall approve any contract with or purchase any goods or services from any immediate family member without disclosure to and approval of the associate superintendent for administrative services.  In addition, no employee shall recommend the employment of or directly supervise or evaluate any immediate family member without disclosure to and approval of the assistant superintendent for human resources- staffing and development.  Immediate Family includes employee’s spouse, parents, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.  In addition, for the purpose of this regulation, anyone living in the same household with the employee is considered a member of the immediate family.

2305.3 3005.3 4005.3

Outside Employment - Employees will not engage in outside employment which prevents them from satisfactorily fulfilling their official job duties.

2305.4

3005.4 4005.4

Accounting Records, School System, and Individual School Funds - Employees will not use any school system assets, including cash funds, materials, supplies, equipment, or vehicles for any unlawful or improper purpose.  No unauthorized or unrecorded funds will be established.  No false or artificial entries shall be made in the financial or non-financial records for any reason whatsoever.  No purchase or payment shall be approved or made with the intent that it or any part of it will be used for any purpose other than that described in the supporting documentation.  School system policy prescribes that all financial and non-financial books, records, and accounts accurately or fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of its assets and other similar activities.

2305.5 3005.5 4005.5

Requests for Information - No employee is to withhold or conceal any appropriate information requested by, or to furnish misleading information to the school board, superintendent, cabinet, legal counsel, internal auditors, external audit firm (contracted to perform the annual audit), or any persons authorized by the superintendent or the finance officer to receive it.  Employees must weigh information that they are knowledgeable of and determine if and when to initiate the submission of additional information that may assist the Wake County Public School System in information gathering.

2305.6 3005.6 4005.6

Testing Code of Ethics - All testing personnel, teachers, and school administrators shall be familiar with the Testing Code of Ethics regarding the statewide testing program and shall adhere to it in all aspects of the testing programs.  Any employee who violates the Testing Code of Ethics is subject to appropriate disciplinary action.  Testing irregularities that affect the validity of the test results shall be reported to the Board of Education by the Superintendent.

2305.7 3005.7 4005.7

Recruiting (Athletics) - No employee shall recruit a student to transfer to or attend another school for athletic purposes.  Recruiting includes any communication or means that suggest that a student should transfer to or attend another school to participate in athletics.  Staff members who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions up to and including termination of employment.

2305.8 3005.8 4005.8

Application of this Policy - While all aspects or implications of this policy cannot be enumerated, it is the school system’s intent that the spirit of the policy be followed by every employee.  If there are any questions or doubts as to what to do or how to handle a particular situation that relates to this policy, an employee should consult with the next appropriate level of management until the question is satisfactorily resolved.

2305.9 3005.9 4005.9

Responsibility - It is the responsibility of every employee to be thoroughly knowledgeable of this policy and to initiate resolution of any potential concern.  While the Wake County Public School System monitors employee activity, the responsibility for compliance with this policy rests directly on the employee and failure to comply with this policy could result in disciplinary action, suspension, termination, and/or legal action.

2305.10 3005.10 4005.10

Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators - All professional educators shall be familiar with and comply with the State’s Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators.

2305.11 3005.11 4005.11

Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for North Carolina Educators - All professional educators shall be familiar with and comply with the State’s Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for North Carolina Educators.

Legal Reference: G.S. 115C-276, -288, -307; Title 16 N.C. Admin. Code, §§ 6D.0301, .0302, .0303 and .0304 and 6C-0601,-0602.

Adopted: June 16, 1997

Revised: August 17, 1998

Revised: September 27, 1999

Revised: March 14, 2002

Revised: May 2, 2002

Attached: Testing Code of Ethics (Revised 1996) issued by Division of Accountability Services/Testing, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction;  Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators (June 1997) adopted by the State Board of Education; Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for North Carolina Educators, 16 NCAC 6C.0601 and -0602 (Effective April 1998).

ADDENDUM

G.S. 14-236 Acting As Agent For Those Furnishing Supplies For Schools And Other State Institutions.

If any member of any board of directors, board of managers, board of trustees of any of the educational, charitable, eleemosynary, or penal institutions of the State, or any member of any board of education, or any county or district superintendent or examiner of teachers, or any trustee of any school or other institution supported in whole or in part from any of the public funds of the State, or any officer, agent, manager, teacher, or employee of such boards, shall have pecuniary interest, either directly or indirectly, proximately or remotely in supplying any goods, wares, or merchandise of any nature or kind whatsoever for any of said institutions or schools; or if any of such officers, agents, managers, teachers, or employees of such institution or school or State or county officer shall act as agent for any manufacturer, merchant, dealer, publisher, or author for any article of merchandise to be used by any of said institutions or schools; or shall receive, directly or indirectly, any gift, emolument, reward, or promise of reward for his influence in recommending or procuring the use of any manufactured article, goods, wares, or merchandise of any nature or kind whatsoever by any such institutions or schools, he shall be forthwith removed from his position in the public service, and shall upon conviction be deemed guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Legal Reference: (Criminal Law G.S. 14-234 & G.S. 14-236) and (G.S. 143-58.1)

Issued: December 19, 1988

Revised: August 17, 1998