All District employees are expected to maintain high standards in their job performance, to demonstrate integrity and honesty, to be considerate and cooperative, and to maintain professional and appropriate relationships with students, parents/guardians, staff members, and others.
In addition, the Code of Ethics for Illinois Educators, adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education, is incorporated by reference into this policy. Any employee who sexually harasses a student, willfully or negligently fails to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, or otherwise violates an employee conduct standard will be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal.
The Superintendent or designee shall provide this policy to all District employees and students and/or parents/guardians in their respective handbooks, if any, and have it posted on the District’s website.
Professional and appropriate employee conduct are important Board goals that impact the quality of a safe learning environment and the school community, increasing students’ ability to learn and the District’s ability to educate. To protect students from sexual misconduct by employees, and employees from the appearance of impropriety, state law also recognizes the importance for District employees to constantly maintain professional and appropriate relationships with students by following established expectations and guidelines for employee-student boundaries.
The Superintendent or designee shall identify employee conduct standards that define appropriate employee-student boundaries, and communicate them to all District employees. The employee conduct standards will require that, at a minimum:
The following employees must file a "Statement of Economic Interests" as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act:
Board Policy 2:105, Ethics and Gift Ban, applies to all District employees. Students shall not be used in any manner for promoting a political candidate or issue.
In accordance with 105 ILCS 5/22-5 of the School Code, “no school officer or teacher shall be interested in the sale, proceeds, or profits of any book, apparatus, or furniture used or to be used in any school with which such officer or teacher may be connected,” except when the employee is the author or developer of instructional materials listed with ISBE and adopted for use by the Board. An employee having an interest in instructional materials must file an annual statement with the Board Secretary.
For the purpose of acquiring profit or personal gain, no employee shall act as an agent of the District nor shall an employee act as an agent of any business in any transaction with the District. This includes participation in the selection, award or administration of a contract supported by a federal award or state award governed by the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) (30 ILCS 708/) when the employee has a real or apparent conflict of interest. A conflict of interest arises when an employee or any of the following individuals has a financial or other interest in or a tangible benefit from the entity selected for the contract:
Employees shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors, potential contractors, or parties to agreements or subcontracts. Situations in which the interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value must comply with state law and Board policy 2:105, Ethics and Gift Ban.
Employees shall not engage in any other employment or in any private business during regular working hours or at such other times as are necessary to fulfill appropriate assigned duties.
Adopted: July 26, 2004 Revised: February 23, 2015; December 16, 2019; April 24, 2023; September 23, 2024; February 24, 2025 Reviewed: February 26, 2024
Legal Reference: U.S. Constitution, First Amendment. 2 C.F.R. §200.318(c)(1). 5 ILCS 420/4A-101, Ill. Governmental Ethics Act. 5 ILCS 430/, State Officials and Employee Ethics Act. 30 ILCS 708/, Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. 50 ILCS 135/, Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act. 105 ILCS 5/10-22.39, 5/10-23.13, 5/22-5, 5/22-85.5, and 5/22-93. 325 ILCS 5/, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. 720 ILCS 5/11-25, Criminal Code of 2012. 775 ILCS 5/5A-102, Ill. Human Rights Act. 23 Ill.Admin.Code Part 22, Code of Ethics for Ill. Educators. Pickering v. Board of Township H.S. Dist. 205, 391 U.S. 563 (1968). Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 (2006).