Goals and Objectives
To encourage and inspire the board of education members to gain the training needed in order to follow the laws that govern the education of children. To require that board members are willing to get advanced
To file an ethics complaint against persons on the board of education
name,, address and telephone number of all persons
the specific ethic in question a, b, etc.
type of evidence acceptable minutes, videotape ?
Digital submission...?
Talk about the first complaint.
List things that must be done.
Find out where one goes when the law is being broken.
How to file an Ethics complaint: Questions and answers
Ethics Complaint Form: The form is downloaded in word and is very easy to fill out. I will give links to examples that have already been decided upon by the Commissioner of Education or the School Ethics Commission.
Read and become familiar with each item below. Learn the difference between 18A and 6A. Anyone may file an Ethics Complaint. Begin with the Oath taken by every Board Member. It is an Ethics Violation when these oaths are ignored. The Oath of Office is tied to the NJ Constitution, the statutes and regulations (18A) and the NJ Administrative Code (6A). Think of 18A as the law and 6A as the law at work inside the school buildings and in each classroom. Under each item, note that all one need do is add the words "fails to" or "not". In other words make the statement a negative and attach the applicable statute or code number. It is good to also collect a bit of documentation for when the complaint is deemed frivolous by the board. It seems they are all deemed frivolous in the beginning. Send in documentation of the statement of fact with the ethics complaint.
A. Student Achievement (Note that student achievement is #1 priority.)
The school board conveys clearly and concretely, through the policies it adopts and the information it seeks, that student achievement is the highest priority.
1. The
school board or advisory board has a clearly articulated district mission statement
incorporating the expectation that all students achieve the New Jersey Core
Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS) at all grade levels.
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2. The
school board or advisory board complies with all of the requirements of N.J.A.C. 6A:8, concerning curriculum
and instruction and professional development.
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3. The
school board or advisory board establishes policies and procedures for the
provision of educational programs and services for all students as set forth
in Chapter 7, Managing for Equality and Equity in Education of Volume 6A of N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.1, et seq.
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4. The school board directs the Chief School Administrator to take appropriate action concerning professional development, purchase of materials and curriculum development. The board also directs the Chief School Administrator to report back to the school board concerning the action(s) taken. |
B. BOARD TRAINING, DISCLOSURE AND OPERATION
The school board and the administration comply with training, disclosure and operational requirements.
1. The
school board or advisory board upholds and enforces all applicable rules and
regulations of the State Board of Education and the Commissioner. (N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1)
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2. Each school
board or advisory board member completes the New Jersey School Boards
training program regarding the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a
local school board member as required by N.J.S.A.18A:12-33
and to evaluate the Chief School Administrator.
(N.J.S.A.18A:17-20.3) NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT: HIRING / RENEWAL OF THE CHIEF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR |
3. Each
school board or advisory board member and administrator, as defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:12-23, files a timely and
properly completed financial and personal/relative disclosure statement each
year. (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-26)
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4. The
school board or advisory board has a travel and related expense reimbursement
policy in place and the school board and Chief School Administrator operate
in accordance with that policy. (N.J.S.A. 18A:11-12)
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5. No
school board or advisory board member misses more than three consecutive
meetings each year without good cause. (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-3)
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C. ETHICS COMPLIANCE
The school board and the administration comply with all ethical standards.
1. Other
than for the failure to timely file a properly completed financial disclosure
statement which is addressed in indicator B (3), neither the school board or
advisory board nor any of its members has been found in violation of the
School Ethics Act. (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-21, et seq.)
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2. Other than for the failure to timely file
a properly completed financial disclosure statement which is addressed in
indicator B(3), no school administrator has been found in violation of the
School Ethics Act. (N.J.S.A.
18A:12- 21, et
seq.)
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3. The
school board or advisory board annually discusses the Code of Ethics for
School Board Members and school board meeting minutes memorialize that
discussion (N.J.S.A.18A:12-24.1).
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4. When
a school board or advisory board member is required to, and recuses himself
or herself from deliberations and a vote on a particular matter, the minutes
of the board meeting reflect that recusal. (N.J.S.A.10:4-6, et seq.)
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5. The
school board or advisory board has a nepotism policy in place that complies
with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-6.2 and takes action in accordance with that policy.
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6. The school board or advisory board has a
policy in place to ensure that the district shall maintain honest and ethical
relations with vendors and shall guard against favoritism, improvidence,
extravagance and corruption in its contracting processes and practices and
takes action in accordance with that policy
(N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-6.3). |
D. POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND BYLAWS
The school board establishes and annually updates by-laws, policies and procedures reflective of current regulatory and statutory authority and best practices.
1. At
least annually, and more frequently if required by changes in law or
regulation, the school board or advisory board reviews, updates and, by resolution,
adopts policies reflective of current regulatory and statutory authority. (N.J.S.A.18A:11-1)
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2. At
least annually, and more frequently if required by changes in law or
regulation, the school board or advisory board reviews, updates and, by
resolution, adopts by-laws reflective of current regulatory and statutory
authority and best practices. (N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1)
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3. The
school board or advisory board annually reviews and approves policies,
procedures, mechanisms and programs for the health and safety of students as
set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:16-1.4.
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4. The school board or advisory board complies with
all of the requirements for the annual organization meeting. (N.J.S.A. 18A:10-3, et seq.; N.J.S.A. 18A:15-1, et seq.)
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E. STANDARD SCHOOL BOARD PRACTICES
The school board
operates in accordance with standard board practices.
1.
Each school
board or advisory board Meeting is conducted in
accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6, et seq.)
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2.
Each
member of the school board or advisory board confines his or her board action
to policy making, planning, and appraisal.
(N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(c))
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3.
School board or advisory board
meetings are conducted in accordance with the board’s by-laws.
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4. Individual
board and advisory board members recognize that authority rests with the
Board of Education and do not make personal promises or take any private action
that may compromise the board. (N.J.S.A.18A:12-24.1(e))
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5. Meeting
minutes, including minutes of executive sessions, reflect all board actions
and are publicly available within two weeks or by the next board meeting of
the meeting or of final board action. (N.J.S.A.10:4-6,
et seq.)
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6. The
school board or advisory board meets at least once every two months, and all
meetings are open to the public. (N.J.S.A.
18A:10-6)
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7. All board
members acknowledge that they have read and are familiar with all of the
terms of all negotiated employment contracts in the district, including but
not limited to collective bargaining agreements.
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F. ANNUAL EVALUATIVE PROCESS
The school board engages in an annual and ongoing evaluative process.
1. The
school board has a policy in place to evaluate the CSA on an annual basis. (N.J.S.A. 18A:17-20.3)
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2. The
school board annually reviews and revises, as necessary, an evaluative
instrument used in the evaluation of the CSA, based on the goals and
objectives of the district. (N.J.A.C. 18A:17-20.3)
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3. The
school board annually evaluates the CSA and complies with all requirements of
N.J.S.A. 18A: 17-20.3(a).
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4. The
school board’s annual evaluation of the Chief School Administrator is based
on the adoption of goals and performance measurement that reflect that
highest priority is given to student achievement and attention to subgroup
achievement.
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5. The
school board has a contract with the CSA that provides for an annual
evaluation that includes evaluation criteria and procedures and that
explicitly states that in the event that the certificate of the superintendent
is revoked the contract is null and void as of the date of the revocation. (N.J.S.A. 18A:17-15, N.J.S.A. 18A:17-15.1, N.J.S.A.18A:17-20.3 )
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6. The
school board or advisory board annually undertakes a self-evaluation process
which reflects that highest priority is given to student achievement.
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7. The
school board or advisory board self-evaluation process includes a
professional development improvement plan directed towards increasing knowledge
and skills in policy making and governance for members of the board.
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8. The school board submits new,
renegotiated, amended, altered or extended contracts for all superintendents,
d
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G. SCHOOL BOARD/ADMINISTRATION COLLABORATION
The school board and
administration work in partnership to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of
the organization through oversight of leadership.
1. The school board or advisory board annually adopts a functional
organizational chart showing reporting responsibilities of board and
administrative personnel.
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2. The
CSA has a calendar system and makes timely personnel recommendations to the
school board concerning the proposed appointment, transfer, removal or
renewal of tenured and non-tenured, certificated and non-certificated
personnel in compliance with contractual and/or statutory requirements.
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3. The
school board approves appointments and transfers and removes or renews
certificated and non-certificated officers and employees only by a roll call
majority vote of the full membership of the board upon the recommendation of
the CSA, and the board acts within 60 days of the CSA’s recommendation. (N.J.S.A.18A:27-4.1)
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4. The school board or
advisory board supports and protects school personnel in the proper
performance of their duties. (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(i))
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5. The
school board or advisory board refers all complaints to the CSA and acts on
the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative
solution.
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6. School board or advisory board members carry
out their responsibility not to administer the schools, but together as a
whole, the board ensures the schools are well run. (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(d))
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H. BUDGET PRIORITIES
The school board
adopts a budget that sets student achievement as its highest priority and
allocates sufficient resources to address instructional and operational needs to
ensure every student has the opportunity to receive a thorough and efficient
education.
1. The
CSA identifies problems impacting on subgroup performance, necessary
instructional and curriculum needs and presents to the school board or
advisory board a budget which addresses these priorities.
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2. The
school board holds a public hearing on its proposed budget and formally
adopts the budget at a public meeting. (N.J.S.A. 18A:22-1, et seq.)
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3. The
school board’s adopted
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4. The
school board makes decisions consistent with the adopted
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5. The
school board approves the monthly Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports
within 60 days of month end and certifies in the minutes that the major funds
(general fund, special revenue and capital projects fund) have not been over-expended
in accordance with the procedures under
N.J.A.C.
6A:23-2.11.
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I. COMMUNICATIONS
The school board has a uniform and effective process for obtaining and disseminating information and decisions within the district, with the parents, and with the community.
1. The school board or
advisory board has established and implements policies and procedures for
handling public comments.
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2. The
school board or advisory board maintains the confidentiality of all matters
pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure
individuals or the schools. N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(g).
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3. The
school board or advisory board provides accurate information and, together
with fellow board members, interprets to the staff the aspirations of the
community for its school. (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(g))
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4. The
school board or advisory board has established a policy to implement the Open
Public Records Act and requires appropriate maintenance of public records and
requires that such records be made available to the public. (N.J.S.A.
47:1A-1 et. seq.)
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5. The
school board or advisory board has developed and implements a policy for
obtaining citizen input in policy development and implementation.
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6. School
board or advisory board policy is in place and implemented to assure
communication among parents, schools, teachers, and community members.
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7. School
board or advisory board member and administrator disclosure statements are
made available to the public (N.J.S.A.
18A:12-25 and 26)
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8. The school board
provides public notice prior to renegotiating, extending, amending or
otherwise altering the terms of contracts for all superintendents, d
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9. The school board submits a user- friendly budget and publishes
key budget provisions, including the salaries of all district employees
earning over $75,000.00 per year who are not members of collective bargaining
units (N.J.S.A. 18A:22-8a, N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-5.3).
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