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Tag: Employment

Published on
    • Effective: 3/29/2022
  1. Board Directive
    The Board adopts this policy to set standards of conduct and expectations of honorable and ethical behavior it expects of all employees. As with the Utah Public Officers’ and Employees’ Ethics Act (67-16), it is intended to promote the public interest and strengthen the faith and confidence of residents in the integrity of government. The intent is to avoid situations where a) someone may be falsely accused of unethical behavior, and where b) someone may do something unethical. Employees must avoid the appearance of impropriety to ensure and maintain public confidence. The Board delegates to the Administration the responsibility to implement the policy provisions below.
  2. Administrative Policy
    1. Ethical Behavior
      All employees including the Board of Education, Officers of the Board, district-level administration, school administration, and all staff and faculty employed by the District and/or its schools are expected to follow the Utah Public Officers’ and Employees’ Ethics Act (67-16), many provisions of which are summarized below. Employees are individually accountable for ethical behavior and, if found to be acting unethically, may receive job action up to and including termination of employment as determined appropriate.

      1. Conflict of Interest (see BP178 Purchasing Provisions, II-F for details; below is a summary.)
        1. All employees are expected to disengage and/or disqualify themselves when a transaction or activity arises where it may appear to a reasonable person that the employee may have a conflict of interest.
        2. A conflict of interest exists whenever any employee puts her/his interest or the interests of some other individual(s) or entity ahead of or in opposition to the interests of the School District.
        3. Employees must avoid all situations that create even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
      2. Improper Use of Position
        1. Employees should not use their position in the District for a purpose that is, or would to a reasonable person appear to be, primarily for the private benefit of the employee, rather than primarily for the benefit of the District.
        2. Employees should maintain proper relationships with those with whom they work in accordance with DP378 Employee Code of Conduct, DP358 Employee Discrimination and Harassment, and AS94 Student Discrimination and Harassment.
      3. Accept Gifts or Loans
        Employees should not ask for or receive, directly or indirectly, any compensation, gift, gratuity, item or activity of value, or promise thereof, for performing or for omitting or deferring the performance of any official duty; except that the following shall be allowed:

        1. Unsolicited flowers, plants, and floral arrangements;
        2. Unsolicited advertising or promotional items of nominal value, such as pens and notepads;
        3. Unsolicited tokens or awards of appreciation in the form of a plaque, trophy, desk item, wall memento, or similar item;
        4. Unsolicited food items given to a department when the contents are shared among employees and the public;
        5. Unsolicited items received for the purpose of evaluation or review provided the officer or employee has no personal beneficial interest in the eventual use or acquisition of the item by the District;
        6. Information material, publications, or subscriptions related to the recipient’s performance of official duties;
        7. Food and beverages consumed at hosted receptions where attendance is related to official duties;
        8. Meals, beverages, and lodging associated with retreats or other meetings where the official serves as a representative, designee or is otherwise assigned to another organization or entity from the District;
        9. Travel costs, lodging, and tuition costs associated with District-sanctioned training or education when not provided by a private entity under contract with the District;
        10. Admission to, and the cost of food and beverages consumed at events sponsored by or in conjunction with a civic, charitable, governmental, or community organization and other officials or employees of similar agencies are in attendance;
        11. Unsolicited gifts from dignitaries from another entity or other jurisdiction that are intended to be personal in nature; and
        12. Unsolicited gifts from vendors with an aggregate economic value of $50.00 or less from a single source in a calendar year received either directly or indirectly by the official or employee.
        13. Thank you gifts and recognitions of reasonable value, given to employees are acceptable when no reciprocation is expected or perceived.
      4. Disclosing Privileged Information
        Employees should not disclose or use any privileged or proprietary information gained by reason of his or her official position for the immediate or anticipated personal gain or benefit of the employee or any other person or entity; provided, that nothing shall prohibit the disclosure or use of information which is a matter of public knowledge, or which is available to the public on request.
      5. Nepotism (see DP303 Staff Selection - Licensed and DP307 Staff Selection, Promotion, and Salary Placement – Education Support Professionals for details; below is a summary).
        1. Supervisors may not hire or recommend for hire their own relatives
        2. Employees should not be supervised and evaluated by their own relatives
      6. Misuse of Public Resources
        Employees should work for the collection, protection, maintenance, and retention of all assets (including funds, property, and records) owned by or owed to the District and not act in any manner that prevents, obscures, devalues, or redirects any assets (including funds, property, and records) of the District away from the District for their personal gain or the gain of another individual or entity.
      7. Outside Employment
        Employees may engage in outside or secondary employment to their position within Jordan School District so long as the outside or secondary employment does not:

        1. Interfere with job performance for the District; or
        2. Conflict with the interests of the District; or
        3. Give reason for criticism or suspicion of conflicting interest or duties.
      8. Political Activity
        Employees are encouraged to engage in the political process but may not:

        1. Engage in political campaigning or solicitation of political contributions during their normal work hours; or
        2. Use District equipment or email for campaigning or political activity; or
        3. Create a benefit or a detriment for others based solely on their political opinions.
      9. Fair and Equal Treatment
        No employee shall grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen in similar circumstances.
    2. Reporting Fraud and Abuse
      1. Improper Government Action means any action by a District employee that is undertaken in the performance of the employee’s official duties, whether or not the action is within the scope of the employee’s employment; and
        1. Is in violation of any federal, state, or local law or rule; or
        2. Is an abuse of authority; or
        3. Is of substantial and specific danger to the public health or safety; or
        4. Is a gross waste of public funds.
      2. Employees who become aware of improper governmental actions should raise the issue
        1. With their supervisor; or
        2. If they reasonably believe the improper governmental action involves her/his supervisor, the employee may raise the issue with any supervisor above his/her supervisor including the Superintendent; or
        3. If it is reasonably believed to be an emergency where damage to persons or property may result if action is not taken immediately, the employee may raise the issue directly with the department or individual who oversees the area; or
        4. Through the District’s Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Non-Compliance reporting telephone number or website.
      3. Upon making a report, employees should be prepared to provide as much detail as possible in order to expedite and assist the investigation.
      4. Although not required, employees are encouraged to provide their name, position, and contact information in order to allow those investigating the opportunity to ask follow-up questions and, as appropriate, to provide non-confidential results of the investigation.

Published on
  • Effective: 6/14/1988
  • Revision: 5/26/2015
  • Reviewed: 5/28/2013
  1. Board Directive
    The Board of Education holds the expectation that all interactions between employees and students are professional and appropriate.  Therefore, the Board directs the District Administration to develop a scope of employment policy regarding interactions between students and staff members which stem from school relationships.  In addition, the Board directs the Administration to designate that certain activities pertaining to dangerous weapons are outside the scope of an employee’s employment.
  2. Administrative Policy
    The scope of employment policy shall be administered according to the following administrative policy provisions and applies to all employees, contract employees, and volunteers.

    1. Instruction, counseling, and administrative tasks and all other planned school contact with students shall be accomplished at the school during regular school hours.
      1. If special circumstances make it necessary for a District employee to meet with one or more students outside the regular school day or at a location other than the school, prior written approval from the principal is required.
      2. When a student requires staff assistance outside the regular school day because of an emergency or unanticipated occurrence, the employee shall notify the principal of the occurrence as soon as possible.
      3. All transportation of students in personal vehicles by District employees shall be avoided, unless the students are members of the employee’s immediate family or a student must be transported by an employee due to an emergency situation where the health, safety or welfare of the student is at immediate risk.  If such travel cannot be avoided and the transportation of a student is not life threatening, written permission must be obtained in advance from the parent and principal.
    2. All extracurricular activities outside regular school hours or off school property must be authorized in advance and in writing by the school principal in accordance with District Policy AA444—Employee Involvement in Private, But Public Education-Related Activities.
    3. After-hour activities involving students are to be held at the school whenever possible.  If another location is necessary, prior written approval from the school principal is required.
    4. Employees shall not charge a fee for any tutoring services provided to students at the school within school hours.  Employees may charge a fee for tutoring services outside of contract hours, only in accordance with District Policy AA444.
    5. District employees have the responsibility to communicate with students and their parents or guardians in a professional manner.  Text messages to students must be of a professional, not personal nature.  All communication using social media must be in compliance with District policies, including Jordan School District Policy DP371 Employee Information Network Acceptable Use and the Social Media Guidelines.  The message content, context and frequency will be used to determine if disciplinary action is taken by the District.
    6. Unless otherwise provided for by law, possession, or use of a firearm, weapon, or other dangerous materials (as defined in section G, below) by any employee in a District building, in or on District property, in conjunction with any District activity, or while traveling in District funded or dispatched vehicles, is in violation of Jordan School District Policy, and will be subject to disciplinary sanctions which may include termination. Possessing, using, selling, or attempting to possess, use or sell any such dangerous materials on District property or in District vehicles is prohibited regardless of intent.  Exceptions to this prohibition are for employees that use tools or materials that are required as part of their job function (as defined in section H, below) and for current holders of a lawfully issued concealed firearm permit (as set forth in section I, below) applying only to firearms, not to any other prohibited weapon or other dangerous materials.
    7. Dangerous materials include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:  firearms (including antique firearms), weapons, knives, swords, explosive/incendiary devices, dangerous chemicals, noxious or flammable materials, martial arts weapons or other instruments including those which eject a projectile or substance of any kind, or any replica or facsimile of any of the above, whether functional or nonfunctional, whether designed for use as a weapon or when any object or substance is used as a weapon.
    8. Authorized use or possession of dangerous materials and tools when used in connection with a District approved activity or job function must be in the possession or under the control or supervision of the person authorized and responsible for the activity (e.g.: cooking, consumer science, CTE, chemistry classes, custodial, maintenance and repair).
    9. The law provides that a qualified person may receive a permit “to carry a concealed firearm for lawful self defense” UCA §§53-5-704(1),-705.  A concealed dangerous weapon means “a dangerous weapon that is covered, hidden or secreted in a manner that the public would not be aware of its presence and is readily accessible for immediate use.” UCA §76-10-501(3)(a)(i).  Therefore, any lawfully concealed firearm on District property or in District vehicles must remain concealed such that the public is not aware of its presence.
    10. District property may not be used to hide, cover or secret a firearm.  A lawfully concealed firearm must be within the employee’s immediate control at all times.  Employees must recognize that students could gain access to a firearm that is not properly concealed, or controlled.  Therefore, employees must use good judgment and strictly follow the law and this policy.
    11. An employee of Jordan School District who obtains a concealed weapons permit does so in his or her own individual capacity.  Any use of such weapons is outside the scope of employment, is contrary to the purposes of employment by the District and is done solely in the employee’s personal capacity, not as an employee of the District.  Any and all liabilities, damages, demands, claims, actions or proceedings in law or equity, including attorney’s fees and costs to suit, relating to or arising out of an employee decision to carry, threaten use, or use a weapon will be the sole responsibility of that employee without recourse to, or liability protection from or through the District.