Missouri Missouri Association of Association of School School Administrators Administrators Ethics Issues for Ethics Issues for Superintendents Superintendents Missouri School Boards’ Association Missouri School Boards’ Association Conference, October 24, 2009 Conference, October 24, 2009
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Missouri Association of School Administrators Ethics Issues for Superintendents Missouri School Boards’ Association Conference, October 24, 2009.
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Missouri Association of Missouri Association of School AdministratorsSchool Administrators
Ethics Issues for SuperintendentsEthics Issues for Superintendents
Missouri School Boards’ Association Conference, Missouri School Boards’ Association Conference, October 24, 2009October 24, 2009
PresentersPresenters
Roger Kurtz, Executive Director; MASA David McGehee, Lee’s Summit Aaron Zalis, Rolla John Cary, St. Louis Co. Special
Motivation For DiscussionMotivation For Discussion School administrator compensation questioned School administrator compensation questioned
by politicians and othersby politicians and others
Questions raised around the state regarding:Questions raised around the state regarding: Personal expensesPersonal expenses Email useEmail use Cell phone usageCell phone usage Automobile useAutomobile use Vendor relationsVendor relations
Motivation For DiscussionMotivation For Discussion MASA had no formal discussion on ethics MASA had no formal discussion on ethics
issues and only a reference to the AASA issues and only a reference to the AASA Ethics Statement in the MASA White PaperEthics Statement in the MASA White Paper
Growing sentiment among school Growing sentiment among school administrators that the association needs to administrators that the association needs to have an open discussion of ethics issueshave an open discussion of ethics issues
MASA Ethics Committee appointed by MASA Ethics Committee appointed by MASA President VeAnn Tilson in 2008MASA President VeAnn Tilson in 2008
MASA Ethics CommitteeMASA Ethics CommitteeMembership
Northwest Region: Rob Leachman, SmithvilleJeffrey Sumy, North Platte
Greater KC Region: David McGehee, Lee’s Summit (Chair)
West Central Region: David Lawrence, Lafayette Co. C-1
Southwest Region: Tim Taylor, Hollister
South Central Region: Aaron Zalis, Rolla
Southeast Region: Kelly Burlison, Fredericktown
Greater STL Region: John Cary, St. Louis Co. Special
Northeast Region: Roy Moss, North Callaway Co. R-1Fred Wiebling, Madison
GoalGoal
Provide recommendations to the MASA Executive Committee related to
school administrator ethics
Committee ChargeCommittee Charge Review MASA Ethics StatementReview MASA Ethics Statement
Discuss how to improve the image of school Discuss how to improve the image of school administratorsadministrators
Review and recommend policies and procedures to Review and recommend policies and procedures to address travel, expense reimbursement, meeting address travel, expense reimbursement, meeting attendance, handling of electronic communications, attendance, handling of electronic communications, etc.etc.
Discuss the issue of posting superintendent salary Discuss the issue of posting superintendent salary informationinformation
Review MASA Ethics StatementReview MASA Ethics Statement AASA Ethics Statement was used for MASAAASA Ethics Statement was used for MASA
Evaluated more than a dozen other Ethics Statements Evaluated more than a dozen other Ethics Statements from around the countryfrom around the country Many similarities foundMany similarities found
Recommended revisions to the AASA Statement of Recommended revisions to the AASA Statement of Ethics to be adopted by MASA as the:Ethics to be adopted by MASA as the:
MASA CODE OF ETHICS FOR MASA CODE OF ETHICS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORSSCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
Standards should be promoted frequently to Standards should be promoted frequently to membership and public to ensure awarenessmembership and public to ensure awareness
Improving Image of School Improving Image of School AdministratorsAdministrators
Seek public opportunity to celebrate the positive Seek public opportunity to celebrate the positive impact that superintendents have on their schools and impact that superintendents have on their schools and communitiescommunities
Form a committee to include representatives from the Form a committee to include representatives from the Missouri School Public Relations Association to Missouri School Public Relations Association to develop a plan of actiondevelop a plan of action
Committee believes that image will improve as a Committee believes that image will improve as a result of adherence to a specific set of standards such result of adherence to a specific set of standards such as those being recommendedas those being recommended
Promotion of such standards will have a positive Promotion of such standards will have a positive impact on imageimpact on image
Review and Recommend Best Review and Recommend Best Practice Policies and ProceduresPractice Policies and Procedures
Discussion led to a wide array of issues for considerationDiscussion led to a wide array of issues for consideration
Work with the Missouri Association of School Business Work with the Missouri Association of School Business Officials to provide guidance to school districts in the area of Officials to provide guidance to school districts in the area of business-related policies and proceduresbusiness-related policies and procedures
Develop a Model Standard Business Operations Manual or Develop a Model Standard Business Operations Manual or template that would assist districts in developing their owntemplate that would assist districts in developing their own
Important to review such operations guidelines annually to Important to review such operations guidelines annually to remain current with accepted practice, statutes, and align with remain current with accepted practice, statutes, and align with existing economic climateexisting economic climate
Posting of Superintendent SalariesPosting of Superintendent Salaries Issue arose from previous attention given to this ideaIssue arose from previous attention given to this idea
Recommend no further study or posting of superintendent Recommend no further study or posting of superintendent salaries at this timesalaries at this time
Was not a major topic during the last legislative sessionWas not a major topic during the last legislative session
Salary information is readily available and already provided Salary information is readily available and already provided upon request on a regular basis in many districtsupon request on a regular basis in many districts
St. Louis Post Dispatch has created a data base in which you can look St. Louis Post Dispatch has created a data base in which you can look up any school employee’s salary information that is on record with the up any school employee’s salary information that is on record with the Department of Elementary and Secondary EducationDepartment of Elementary and Secondary Education
A school district operates using funds A school district operates using funds collected from taxpayers for the benefit of the collected from taxpayers for the benefit of the district’s educational programdistrict’s educational program
As school leaders we have an obligation to As school leaders we have an obligation to maintain oversight of the resources that have maintain oversight of the resources that have been providedbeen provided
ExpectationsExpectations Citizens of our district have the expectation
that:
Money in our control will be safeguarded
Money will be spent wisely and for authorized purposes
When asset misappropriation occurs, the public’s trust is breached
EnvironmentEnvironment
School leaders must set the tone at the topSchool leaders must set the tone at the top Create and maintain a culture of honesty Create and maintain a culture of honesty
and high ethicsand high ethics Evaluate the risks of fraud and implement the Evaluate the risks of fraud and implement the
processes, procedures, and controls needed to processes, procedures, and controls needed to mitigate the risks and reduce the opportunities mitigate the risks and reduce the opportunities for fraudfor fraud
Develop an appropriate oversight processDevelop an appropriate oversight process Trust, but verifyTrust, but verify
EnvironmentEnvironment
Create an environment with internal controls – Create an environment with internal controls – even the smallest departments or districts must even the smallest departments or districts must have procedures for oversight and verificationhave procedures for oversight and verification
Create a culture that is open and allows Create a culture that is open and allows questions to be asked. Have a policy outlining questions to be asked. Have a policy outlining reporting fraud and abusereporting fraud and abuse
Communicate clearly appropriate and inappropriate Communicate clearly appropriate and inappropriate expendituresexpenditures
All purchases should have proper approval and All purchases should have proper approval and follow the district’s policiesfollow the district’s policies
All items on invoices should be verified as receivedAll items on invoices should be verified as received Request for expense reimbursement must have Request for expense reimbursement must have
original itemized receiptsoriginal itemized receipts Require W-9 forms for all vendors (reduces the Require W-9 forms for all vendors (reduces the
opportunity for bogus vendors to be established)opportunity for bogus vendors to be established)
GuidelinesGuidelines
Maintain your independence with vendorsMaintain your independence with vendors Avoid conflicts of interest with your vendorsAvoid conflicts of interest with your vendors Avoid the appearance of conflict of interest Avoid the appearance of conflict of interest
with your vendorswith your vendors Develop a vendors relation policyDevelop a vendors relation policy Periodically and systemically bid items – over Periodically and systemically bid items – over
time vendors may not be as competitive as time vendors may not be as competitive as they once werethey once were
Suggestions For Follow-upSuggestions For Follow-up Discuss ethics with leadership teams on a regular Discuss ethics with leadership teams on a regular
basisbasis Review appropriate vendor relations with staffReview appropriate vendor relations with staff School Boards work with administration to ensure School Boards work with administration to ensure
sound ethics policies and related procedures exist sound ethics policies and related procedures exist Include an ethics component in administrator Include an ethics component in administrator
evaluationsevaluations Know your own community’s values and priorities Know your own community’s values and priorities
when it comes to ethical behaviorwhen it comes to ethical behavior Reflect on your own experiences and behaviors with Reflect on your own experiences and behaviors with
a focus on ethicsa focus on ethics
ResourcesResources
Charter Charter MASA Code of Ethics for Educational MASA Code of Ethics for Educational