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Lodi Unified School District

Bylaw 9261 - Code of Ethics

Series: 9000 - Bylaws of the Board

Bylaw: 9261 - Code of Ethics

Adopted: 11/02/1976

Last Revised: 02/18/1997

Download Bylaw 9261 - Code of Ethics PDF (English)

Code of ethics

A code of ethics is an expression of those personal ideals which should guide an individual’s daily activities.

In all our actions as school board members, our first commitment is to the wellbeing of the district’s youth. Our primary responsibility is to each child.

We also have other major commitments to:

  1. The Community. We are responsible to all citizens of the district and not solely to those who elected us, nor to any organization of which we may be members.
  2. Individuals. We have a direct concern for every individual in the community. As an integral part of our duties, we represent the authority and responsibility of government. This represents the delegated authority of the majority and must be exercised with as much care and concern for the least influential as for the most influential member of the community.
  3. Employees. The district is a major employer of the community. Our actions as board members may affect the capability of district employees to practice their trade or profession.
  4. Laws, Policies. We must be aware of, and comply with, the constitutions of State and Nation, the Education Code of the State of California, other laws pertaining to public education, and the established policies of the district.
  5. Decision Making. It is our obligation, under the law, to participate in decisions pertaining to education in the district. As elected representatives of the people, we can neither relinquish nor delegate this responsibility to any other individual or group.
  6. Individual Feelings and Philosophy. Like every other individual, we have something to contribute to society.

Understanding and acting the foregoing premises, we shall:

a. consider our positions as board members as a public trust and not use it for private advantage of personal gain.
b. be constantly aware that we have no legal authority except when we are acting as members of the board. We shall present our concerns and concepts through the process of board debate and, if in the minority on any decision, we shall abide by and support the majority decision. When we are in the majority, we shall respect divergent opinions.
c. encourage ideas and opinions from the citizens of the district and endeavor to incorporate their views in the deliberations and decisions of the board.
d. devote sufficient time, thought, and study to proposed actions to be able to base our decisions upon all available facts and vote our honest convictions unswayed by partisan bias of any kind.
e. remember that the basic functions of the board are to establish the policies by which the schools of the district are to be administered and to select the superintendent and staff who will implement those policies.
f. promote and participate actively in a concerted program of timely exchange of information with all citizens, parents, employees and students of the district.
g. recognize that the deliberations of the board in executive session are not ours to release or discuss. They may be released or discussed in public only with the approval of the board.
h. avail ourselves of opportunities for enlargement of our potential as board members through participation in educational conferences, workshops, and training sessions made available by local, state, and national agencies.

Legal References

Boardsmanship (published by the California School Boards Association)