Post by Appalled on Jun 16, 2022 8:33:47 GMT -7
The Board modified its Board Member Code of Conduct in June's Special Session. No draft was available to the public, and it is now online. Here is a line-by-line review.
Please note what they changed and the effect it will have. Here's my assessment:
- adds references and phrases to cover their past decisions and questionable activities (item 1,15,16, 18. For 1, see BLRboardwatch thread about D49 Issues Notice on Elections that: blrboardwatch.freeforums.net/thread/44/issues-notice-violating-charter-elections. For 15-18, this pertains to why former board members resigned)
- multiple additions about being one voice, board controls the narrative, restrict board members' ability to talk to parent constituents and stakeholders about what the board decided and why..."except to repeat explicitly stated Board decisions" (quote is from item 10). (15, 16, 17, 24)
- added redundant language about personal beliefs not affecting judgement and all members being equal [which is clearly not evident in practice] (19, 23, 24)
- they will contain internal dissent within the board, and will not hesitate to remove board members who speak out (18, 25)
- Code of Conduct should be about ethical behavior, not ways to control your members' engagement with the community. What a Code should be: www.boardeffect.com/blog/code-of-conduct-for-board-members/#:~:text=A%20code%20of%20conduct%20guides,decisions%20and%20choices%20they%20make.
THESE CHANGES DO NOT IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL--THEY ARE ABOUT CONTROL. They constrain and discourage board members from having open discussions with stakeholders and from expressing individual opinions, and makes it clear they will reject board members they don't like. (Note: this board of 5 rejected a set of qualified applicants to the board in April and May 2022, and selected only 1 new member, thus preserving their majority position going into school year 22-23: 3 returning board members + 1 new member on a board that should be 7 members).
Please comment back if you agree or disagree. This appears to be a case of wielding policy to board advantage, and to the disadvantage of the stakeholders and the voting constituency (the parents).
THE NEW CODE OF CONDUCT, JUNE 2022: (Red for deletions, blue underlines for additions. The typos are theirs.] Find new code here: blracademy.org/school-board/
The Board commits itself and its members to ethical, businesslike, and lawful conduct, including proper use of authority and appropriate decorum when acting as Board members. The Board will always be guided by BLRA’s Vision and Mission, statute and regulatory guidelines.
1. I serve the children, staff and parents of BLRA in accordance with the Vision, Mission, Charter, Bylaws, approved Policies, this Code of Conduct and any other documents approved by the Board.
2. I understand that the role of the Board is governance and policy development and not administration of the school and, therefore, I do not personally direct any staff member orstudent students at the school.
3. I listen, speak my mind and share all relevant information with other members of the Board in a respectful courteous manner.
4. I respect the opinion of others, and presume positive intentions.
5. I make decisions based on what is best for the children and BLRA as a whole.
6. I am aware of the implications of my role and how it affects my relationships with other school community members.
7. I vote for an Executive Session of the Board if the situation requires it and I know that secret sessions of Board members is unethical.
8. I do not use BLRA or any part of its program for my own economic advantage or for the advantage of my friends.
9. I excuse myself without comment from the deliberation and vote of an issue in which I have an unavoidable conflict of interest.
10. I do not attempt to exercise my Board authority over the school or speak for the Board except to repeat explicitly stated Board decisions.
11. I make no disparaging remarks, in or out of Board meetings, about other members of the Board. I will honor those in their absence.
12. I carefully read all information and ask critical questions so that I am fully informed about issues facing the Board.
13. I express my honest and most thoughtful opinions frankly, in Board meetings, in an effort to have all decisions made for the best interest of the children and the school.
14. I encourage all members of the Board to participate fully in Board action.
15. I do not violate any family or student confidentialities at the school and understand I am bound by FERPA, HIPPA, and any other statutory/regulatory guidelines, and assume that all information without limitation is private and confidential.
16. I do not discuss the confidential business of Executive Session outside of those Sessions including with those present in the Executive Session.
17. I do not conduct Board business outside of Board meetings, unless expressly granted by statute or law (i.e. schedule, questions, etc.).
18. I do not individually judge/evalutate the Directors, administration, or staff performance. I will address concerns with that person first, then bring the concern to the Board if resolution cannot be reached.
19. I do not make decisions without a careful examination of all sides of issues, regardless of my personal/professional beliefs.
20. As a member of the Board, once a vote has been taken on a policy or issues, I respect the decision of the group and support its implementation.
21. I promptly notify the Board no later than the next Board meeting of any change in my status that may affect my eligibility to serve on the Board or my ability to abide by these rules.
22. I acknowledge that if I fail to attend any three regular Board meetings out of six consecutive. Board meetings, without advance notice to the board, I may be removed from the Board. Board meetings, without advance notice
23. I will not use my personal relationships/friendships/affiliations to influence my decision-making or to my own personal benefit.
24. I understand that all board positions hold equal weight and directors shall remember that they possess no individual authority; it is only as a collective Board that decisions are made, and once finalized, we are one voice and support th decisons.
25. I understand if I have been determined by the Board to have violated any of the items in the code of conduct, I can/may be removed from the Board of Directors per the bylaws, and unable to serve on the Board indefinitely.
Please note what they changed and the effect it will have. Here's my assessment:
- adds references and phrases to cover their past decisions and questionable activities (item 1,15,16, 18. For 1, see BLRboardwatch thread about D49 Issues Notice on Elections that: blrboardwatch.freeforums.net/thread/44/issues-notice-violating-charter-elections. For 15-18, this pertains to why former board members resigned)
- multiple additions about being one voice, board controls the narrative, restrict board members' ability to talk to parent constituents and stakeholders about what the board decided and why..."except to repeat explicitly stated Board decisions" (quote is from item 10). (15, 16, 17, 24)
- added redundant language about personal beliefs not affecting judgement and all members being equal [which is clearly not evident in practice] (19, 23, 24)
- they will contain internal dissent within the board, and will not hesitate to remove board members who speak out (18, 25)
- Code of Conduct should be about ethical behavior, not ways to control your members' engagement with the community. What a Code should be: www.boardeffect.com/blog/code-of-conduct-for-board-members/#:~:text=A%20code%20of%20conduct%20guides,decisions%20and%20choices%20they%20make.
THESE CHANGES DO NOT IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL--THEY ARE ABOUT CONTROL. They constrain and discourage board members from having open discussions with stakeholders and from expressing individual opinions, and makes it clear they will reject board members they don't like. (Note: this board of 5 rejected a set of qualified applicants to the board in April and May 2022, and selected only 1 new member, thus preserving their majority position going into school year 22-23: 3 returning board members + 1 new member on a board that should be 7 members).
Please comment back if you agree or disagree. This appears to be a case of wielding policy to board advantage, and to the disadvantage of the stakeholders and the voting constituency (the parents).
THE NEW CODE OF CONDUCT, JUNE 2022: (Red for deletions, blue underlines for additions. The typos are theirs.] Find new code here: blracademy.org/school-board/
The Board commits itself and its members to ethical, businesslike, and lawful conduct, including proper use of authority and appropriate decorum when acting as Board members. The Board will always be guided by BLRA’s Vision and Mission, statute and regulatory guidelines.
1. I serve the children, staff and parents of BLRA in accordance with the Vision, Mission, Charter, Bylaws, approved Policies, this Code of Conduct and any other documents approved by the Board.
2. I understand that the role of the Board is governance and policy development and not administration of the school and, therefore, I do not personally direct any staff member or
3. I listen, speak my mind and share all relevant information with other members of the Board in a respectful courteous manner.
4. I respect the opinion of others, and presume positive intentions.
5. I make decisions based on what is best for the children and BLRA as a whole.
6. I am aware of the implications of my role and how it affects my relationships with other school community members.
7. I vote for an Executive Session of the Board if the situation requires it and I know that secret sessions of Board members is unethical.
8. I do not use BLRA or any part of its program for my own economic advantage or for the advantage of my friends.
9. I excuse myself without comment from the deliberation and vote of an issue in which I have an unavoidable conflict of interest.
10. I do not attempt to exercise my Board authority over the school or speak for the Board except to repeat explicitly stated Board decisions.
11. I make no disparaging remarks, in or out of Board meetings, about other members of the Board. I will honor those in their absence.
12. I carefully read all information and ask critical questions so that I am fully informed about issues facing the Board.
13. I express my honest and most thoughtful opinions frankly, in Board meetings, in an effort to have all decisions made for the best interest of the children and the school.
14. I encourage all members of the Board to participate fully in Board action.
15. I do not violate any family or student confidentialities at the school and understand I am bound by FERPA, HIPPA, and any other statutory/regulatory guidelines, and assume that all information without limitation is private and confidential.
16. I do not discuss the confidential business of Executive Session outside of those Sessions including with those present in the Executive Session.
17. I do not conduct Board business outside of Board meetings, unless expressly granted by statute or law (i.e. schedule, questions, etc.).
18. I do not individually judge/evalutate the Directors, administration, or staff performance. I will address concerns with that person first, then bring the concern to the Board if resolution cannot be reached.
19. I do not make decisions without a careful examination of all sides of issues, regardless of my personal/professional beliefs.
20. As a member of the Board, once a vote has been taken on a policy or issues, I respect the decision of the group and support its implementation.
21. I promptly notify the Board no later than the next Board meeting of any change in my status that may affect my eligibility to serve on the Board or my ability to abide by these rules.
22. I acknowledge that if I fail to attend any three regular Board meetings out of six consecutive. Board meetings, without advance notice to the board, I may be removed from the Board. Board meetings, without advance notice
23. I will not use my personal relationships/friendships/affiliations to influence my decision-making or to my own personal benefit.
24. I understand that all board positions hold equal weight and directors shall remember that they possess no individual authority; it is only as a collective Board that decisions are made, and once finalized, we are one voice and support th decisons.
25. I understand if I have been determined by the Board to have violated any of the items in the code of conduct, I can/may be removed from the Board of Directors per the bylaws, and unable to serve on the Board indefinitely.