City Ethics
Breaking the oxymoron: "City Ethics"

Toward Better Ethics Rules, Training, Oversight, and Enforcement in a Florida School District

Robert Wechsler
County Related
I've been writing a lot about the controversies surrounding a new Broward County (FL) ethics code, but there's also been controversy in the Broward County School District that is likely to lead to an ethics code of its own (according to a Miami Herald editorial on Saturday, a former school board member pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges this year, and another member revealed that her husband works for a firm that frequently lobbies the school board).

This led to the creation of a Commission on Education Excellence through Integrity, Public Ethics and Transparency, which made preliminary recommendations to the school board last week:

    Develop a separate code of ethics by January 1, 2011.

    Create separate department-specific ethics codes pertinent to the operations of each department.

    Create a mandatory comprehensive ethics training course which will contain a yearly follow-up practicum.

    Continue to make changes to the Facilities Management Department’s Processes and Procedures

    Continue to make necessary changes to the Qualification Selection Evaluation Committee (QSEC) Policy 7003

    Develop a noninterference policy and censuring guidelines for School Board members with respect to the day-to-day operations of the School District. 

    Limit School Board members to 3 Terms of Office (12 years)

    Create an independent Auditor’s Office which answers directly to the School Board

    Adopt a stricter policy on nepotism.

    Establish policy whereby School Board members cannot serve on any internal advisory committees where procurement of goods or services is possible.

    Broadcast all workshops and retreats through all media outlets into radio, television and the internet.

    Move on a regular basis School Board meetings to nighttime in an attempt to increase public participation.

    Appoint a committee of various stakeholders to reevaluate and revise the website for changes specifically designed to increase access to documentation and produce greater overall transparency.

    Utilize an inspector general to oversee and handle any and all ethics violation allegations.  In conjunction with this office, a mechanism to receive allegations of any perceived ethical lapses or defalcations anonymously should be created .

According to the editorial, an important change is not clear from this list:  school board members would be prohibited from serving on the Qualifying Selection Evaluation Committee, which awards big contracts. A principal goal of the recommended reforms is to separate school board members from the contracting process, and to provide better ethics rules, training, oversight, and enforcement.

Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics

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