School Employee Code of Conduct

The Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees and the Superintendent expect all employees to exercise good judgment and maintain professional standards and ethical boundaries when interacting with students. Below are the sections from Board Policy 4119.21 Professional Standards that apply specifically to employee interactions with pupils. Links to the complete Board Policy documents are also provided for reference.

Board Policy 4119.21 Professional Standards

Staff Conduct with Students

The Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board and Superintendent expect all employees to exercise good judgment and maintain professional standards and ethical boundaries when interacting with students both on and off school property, and at either sanctioned or nonsanctioned events and activities. Inappropriate employee conduct shall include, but not be limited to,

Engaging in any conduct that endangers students, staff, or others, including, but not limited to, physical violence, threats of violence, or possession of a firearm or other weapon
Engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior towards students, parents/guardians, staff, or community members, or failing or refusing to intervene when an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying against a student is observed
Physically abusing, sexually abusing, neglecting, or otherwise willfully harming or injuring a child
Engaging in inappropriate socialization or fraternization with a student or soliciting, encouraging, or maintaining an inappropriate written, verbal, electronic, or physical relationship with a student
Possessing or viewing any pornography on school grounds, or possessing or viewing child pornography or other imagery portraying children in a sexualized manner at any time
Using profane, obscene, or abusive language against students, parents/guardians, staff, or community members
Willfully disrupting Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board or Pleasant Valley School operations by loud or unreasonable noise or other action
Using tobacco, alcohol, or an illegal or unauthorized substance, or possessing or distributing any controlled substance, while in the workplace or at a school-sponsored activity
Dishonesty with students, parents/guardians, staff, or members of the public, including, but not limited to, falsification of information in employment records or other school records
Divulging confidential information about students or Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board employees to persons not authorized to receive the information
Using Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board equipment or other Pleasant Valley School resources for the employee’s own commercial purposes or for political activities. Using Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board equipment or communications devices for personal purposes while on duty, except in an emergency, during scheduled work breaks, or for personal necessity
Employees shall be notified that computer files and all electronic communications, including, but not limited to, email and voice mail, are not private. To ensure proper use, the Superintendent or designee may monitor employee usage of Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board technological resources at any time without the employee’s consent.
Causing damage to or engaging in theft of property belonging to students, staff, or the Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board
Wearing inappropriate attire

For purposes of this policy, the term “electronic relationship” includes engaging with students through any electronic means including but not limited to, telephone conversations, voice mail messages, text messages, e-mails, instant messages, and communication through internet social networking sites or other online means.

An employee who observes or has evidence of inappropriate conduct between another employee and a student shall immediately report such conduct to the Superintendent. An employee who has knowledge of or suspects child abuse or neglect shall file a report pursuant to the Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board's child abuse reporting procedures as detailed in AR 5141.4 – Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting.

Any reports of employee misconduct shall be promptly investigated. Any employee who is found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct in violation of law or Board policy shall be subject to disciplinary action and, in the case of a certificated employee, may be subject to a report to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The Superintendent shall notify local law enforcement as appropriate.

Any employee who is found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct with a student in violation of law or this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

The Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a complaint against an employee or reports an employee’s inappropriate conduct. Any employee who retaliates against any such complainant, reporter, or other participants in the Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District Board's complaint process shall be subject to discipline.

Read the complete Board Policy 4119.21 Professional Standards

Board Policy 4119.21 Exhibit: Rules of Conduct for Professional Educators

Principle I. Commitment to the Student

The educator strives to help each student realize his/her potential as a worthy and effective member of society. The educator therefore works to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals.

In fulfillment of the obligation to the student, the educator:

Shall not unreasonably restrain the student from independent action in the pursuit of learning
Shall not unreasonably deny the student access to varying points of view
Shall not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to the student’s progress
Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety
Shall not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement
Shall not on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, marital status, political or religious beliefs, family, social, or cultural background, or sexual orientation, unfairly:
1. Exclude any student from participation in any program
2. Deny benefits to any student
3. Grant any advantage to any student
Shall not use professional relationships with students for private advantage
Shall not disclose information in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law

Read the complete Board Policy 4119.21 Exhibit: Rules of Conduct for Professional Educators