BHSD 4-2 File: BBFA
School Board Member Conflict of Interest
The Board and individual members will follow the letter and spirit of the law regarding conflicts of interest. Public office is a trust created in the interest of the common good and for the benefit of the people. As public officials holding the respect and trust of the community, Board members will not use the office for personal advantage.
A Board member will not have any direct pecuniary interest in a contract with the School District; nor furnish directly any labor, equipment, or supplies to the District; nor be employed for pay as a teacher or substitute teacher in the same School District in which he/she is a Board member.
Exceptions to the above involve contracts of less than $3,000 or contracts of less than the amount which would require bidding if no other source of supply is available within the School District and the amount paid is reasonable.
Each member shall decide if any potential conflict of interest requires disqualification from participation in Board discussion or action. No Board member may participate in discussion or vote on any issue in which the member has a conflict of interest if the following circumstances apply:
1. The member has a direct pecuniary interest in the matter before the Board; or
2. At least two-thirds of the Board votes that a member has an identifiable conflict of interest that should prohibit the member from voting on a specific matter.
Nepotism (Optional)
The Board will not employ any teacher or other employee if the teacher or other employee is a relative of any Board member by consanguinity within the third degree; nor will the Board employ the spouse of a member, except by unanimous vote of the Board.
Adopted: June 2001
Revised: December 14, 2009
Legal References: Constitution of the State of South Dakota, Article III, Section 23; Article VIII, Section 17; SDCL 3-16-1; 3-16-2; 6-1-1; 6-1-2; 13-7-3; 13-20-2.1; 13-43-1; 16-1-17