Conflict of Interest Policy For School Boards

School board staff will be in a better position to identify and avoid potential areas of conflict now that all boards are required to have a conflict of interest policy.

"Requiring all school boards to have a conflict of interest policy is another step we're taking to ensure proper accountability for money spent on education," said Education Minister Jamie Muir.

A conflict of interest is any situation in which an employee attempts to promote a private or personal interest either for him or herself or for some other person(s). Actions that would fall into that category include accepting or soliciting fees or gifts for services provided or personally benefiting from school or board programs more than a member of the public.

School boards were asked earlier this year to start developing their own policies, and are implementing them over the remainder of the school year. A model policy was sent to the boards as a resource tool. It included a conflict of interest checklist for outside activities.

Examples of questions for staff on the checklist included:

• Do you undertake any outside work or service for compensation, that is related to the field of expertise in which you are employed by your school board?
• Do you currently have, or are you involved in a business or employment outside your school board which involves a service, product or facility which is offered by the school board?

Staff from the Department of Education will follow up with the boards in the new year to learn the status of their policy development.

The province introduced a Code of Conduct for Civil Servants in 2000. There are already provisions governing conflict of interest for elected school board members in the Education Act and in the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Introducing a policy for school board staff that is consistent with the current provincial policy is the natural next step.

The mandatory conflict of interest policy is part of revisions that have been made to the Education Act through the Financial Measures Act in 2002.

Since that time, staff have been working with the school boards and others to prepare the necessary amendments to regulations. In addition to the new conflict of interest policy, amendments include establishing audit committees in all school boards for monitoring and maintaining internal controls over its operation, mandatory financial reporting and a ban on commercial activity without government authority.