Employee Code of Conduct

LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

BP 4119.21/4219.21/4319.21
Personnel

The Governing Board expects district employees to maintain the highest ethical standards, behave professionally, follow district policies and regulations, abide by state and federal laws, and exercise good judgment when interacting with students and other members of the school community. Employees shall engage in conduct that enhances the integrity of the district, advances the goals of the district's educational programs, and contributes to a positive school climate.

Each employee is expected to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their responsibilities and to contribute to the learning and achievement of district students.

Inappropriate Conduct

Inappropriate employee conduct includes, but is not limited to:

1. 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
2. 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
3. Physically abusing, sexually abusing, neglecting, or otherwise willfully harming or injuring a child
4. Engaging in inappropriate socialization or fraternization with a student or soliciting, encouraging, or maintaining inappropriate electronic communication, written, verbal, or physical relationship with a student
5. 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
6. Using profane, obscene, or abusive language against students, parents/guardians, staff, or community members
7. Willfully disrupting district or school operations by loud or unreasonable noise or other action
8. Using tobacco, alcohol, or an illegal or unauthorized substance, or possessing or distributing any controlled substance, while in the workplace, on district property, or at a school-sponsored activity
9. Being dishonest with students, parents/guardians, staff, or members of the public, including, but not limited to, falsifying information in employment records or other school records
10. Divulging confidential information about students, district employees, or district operations to persons or entities not authorized to receive the information
11. Using district equipment or other district resources for the employee's own commercial purposes or for political activities
12. Using district 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 district technological resources at any time without the employee's consent.
13. Causing damage to or engaging in theft of property belonging to students, staff, or the district
14. Wearing inappropriate attire

Reports of Misconduct

An employee who observes or has evidence of another employee's inappropriate conduct shall immediately report such conduct to the principal or Superintendent or designee. An employee who has knowledge of or suspects child abuse or neglect shall file a report pursuant to the district'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 or designee shall notify local law enforcement as appropriate.

An employee who has knowledge of but fails to report inappropriate employee conduct may also be subject to discipline.

The district 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 participant in the district's complaint process shall be subject to discipline.

Notifications

The section(s) of the district's employee code of conduct addressing interactions with students shall be provided to parents/guardians at the beginning of each school year and shall be posted on school and/or district websites.

Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
44050 Employee code of conduct; interaction with students
44242.5 Reports and review of alleged misconduct
48980 Parental notifications
PENAL CODE
11164-11174.4 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
80303 Reports of dismissal, resignation and other terminations for alleged misconduct
80331-80338 Rules of conduct for professional educators

Date Board Policy Adopted: March 27, 2018
(Replaced BP 4302)

LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS - CERTIFICATED

E 4119.21
Personnel

CODE OF ETHICS OF THE EDUCATION PROFESSION

Preamble
The educator, believing in the worth and dignity of each human being, recognizes the supreme importance of the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, and the nurturing of democratic principles. Essential to these goals is the protection of freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal educational opportunity for all. The educator accepts the responsibility to adhere to the highest ethical standards.

The educator recognizes the magnitude of the responsibility inherent in the teaching process. The desire for the respect and confidence of one's colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the members of the community provides the incentive to attain and maintain the highest possible degree of ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics of the Education Profession indicates the aspiration of all educators and provides standards by which to judge conduct.

Principle I. Commitment to the Student

The educator strives to help each student realize their 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:

1. Shall not unreasonably restrain the student from independent action in the pursuit of learning
2. Shall not unreasonably deny the student access to varying points of view
3. Shall not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to the student's progress
4. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety
5. Shall not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement
6. 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:
   • Exclude any student from participation in any program
   • Deny benefits to any student
   • Grant any advantage to any student
7. Shall not use professional relationships with students for private advantage
8. Shall not disclose information in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law

Principle II. Commitment to the Profession

The education profession is vested by the public with a trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals of professional service.

In the belief that the quality of the services of the education profession directly influences the nation and its citizens, the educator shall exert every effort to raise professional standards, to promote a climate that encourages the exercise of professional judgment, to achieve conditions that attract persons worthy of the trust to careers in education, and to assist in preventing the practice of the profession by unqualified persons.

In fulfillment of the obligation of the profession, the educator:

1. Shall not in any application for a professional position deliberately make a false statement or fail to disclose a material fact related to competency and qualifications
2. Shall not misrepresent their professional qualifications
3. Shall not assist any entry into the profession of a person known to be unqualified in respect to character, education, or other relevant attribute
4. Shall not knowingly make a false statement concerning the qualifications of a candidate for a professional position
5. Shall not assist a non-educator in the unauthorized practice of teaching
6. Shall not disclose information about colleagues obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law
7. Shall not knowingly make false or malicious statements about a colleague
8. Shall not accept any gratuity, gift, or favor that might impair or appear to influence professional decisions or action

Source: National Education Association, 1975
Date Exhibit Adopted: March 27, 2018

LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS - CLASSIFIED

E 4219.21
Personnel

CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES
School employees who are in daily contact with many phases of educational work should be persons whose conduct is beyond reproach and who sincerely believe in the advancement of education and the betterment of working conditions; therefore, the California School Employees' Association proposes this Code of Ethics as a standard for its members.

AS A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE I WILL:
Be proud of my vocation in order that I may use my best endeavors to elevate the standards of my position so that I may merit a reputation for high quality of service -- to the end that others may emulate my example.

Be a person of integrity, clean speech, desirable personal habits, and physical fitness. Be just in my criticism and be generous in my praise; to improve and not destroy. At all times be courteous in my relations with students, parents, teachers and others. Be a resourceful person who readily adapts himself to different kinds of work and changed conditions and finds better ways to do things.

Conduct myself in a spirit of friendly helpfulness to my fellow employees to the end that I will consider no personal success legitimate or ethical which is secured by taking unfair advantage of another.

Associate myself with employees of other districts for the purpose of discussing school problems and cooperating in the improvement of public school conditions.

Always uphold my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state, my school district and my community, and give them unswerving loyalty.

Always bear in mind that the purpose of CSEA is to promote the efficiency and raise the standards of all school employees and that I shall be equally obligated to assist all my fellow workers.

SOURCE: CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION
Date Exhibit Adopted: March 27, 2018

LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS - EDUCATIONAL LEADERS

E 4319.21
Personnel

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERS

Standards:

1. Development and Implementation of a Shared Vision: Education leaders facilitate the development and implementation of a shared vision of learning and growth of all students.
   • Student-Centered Vision: Leaders shape a collective vision that uses multiple measures of data and focuses on equitable access, opportunities, and outcomes for all students.
   • Developing Shared Vision: Leaders engage others in a collaborative process to develop a vision of teaching and learning that is shared and supported by all stakeholders.
   • Vision Planning and Implementation: Leaders guide and monitor decisions, actions, and outcomes using the shared vision and goals.
2. Instructional Leadership: Education leaders shape a collaborative culture of teaching and learning informed by professional standards and focused on student and professional growth.
   • Professional Learning Culture: Leaders promote a culture in which staff engages in individual and collective professional learning that results in their continuous improvement and high performance.
   • Curriculum and Instruction: Leaders guide and support the implementation of standards-based curriculum, instruction, and assessments that address student expectations and outcomes.
   • Assessment and Accountability: Leaders develop and use assessment and accountability systems to monitor, improve, and extend educator practice, program outcomes, and student learning.
3. Management and Learning Environment: Education leaders manage the organization to cultivate a safe and productive learning and working environment.
   • Operations and Facilities: Leaders provide and oversee a functional, safe, and clean learning environment.
   • Plans and Procedures: Leaders establish structures and employ policies and processes that support students to graduate ready for college and career.
   • Climate: Leaders facilitate safe, fair, and respectful environments that meet the intellectual, linguistic, cultural, social-emotional, and physical needs of each learner.
   • Fiscal and Human Resources: Leaders align fiscal and human resources and manage policies and contractual agreements that build a productive learning environment.
4. Family and Community Engagement: Education leaders collaborate with families and other stakeholders to address diverse student and community interests and mobilize community resources.
   • Parent and Family Engagement: Leaders meaningfully involve all parents and families, including underrepresented communities, in student learning and support programs.
   • Community Partnerships: Leaders establish community partnerships that promote and support students to meet performance and content expectations and graduate ready for college and career.
   • Community Resources and Services: Leaders leverage and integrate community resources and services to meet the varied needs of all students.
5. Ethics and Integrity: Education leaders make decisions, model, and behave in ways that demonstrate professionalism, ethics, integrity, justice, and equity and hold staff to the same standard.
   • Reflective Practice: Leaders act upon a personal code of ethics that requires continuous reflection and learning.
   • Ethical Decision-Making: Leaders guide and support personal and collective actions that use relevant evidence and available research to make fair and ethical decisions.
   • Ethical Action: Leaders recognize and use their professional influence with staff and the community to develop a climate of trust, mutual respect, and honest communication necessary to consistently make fair and equitable decisions on behalf of all students.
6. External Context and Policy: Education leaders influence political, social, economic, legal, and cultural contexts affecting education to improve education policies and practices.
   • Understanding and Communicating Policy: Leaders actively structure and participate in opportunities that develop greater public understanding of the education policy environment.
   • Professional Influence: Leaders use their understanding of social, cultural, economic, legal, and political contexts to shape policies that lead all students to graduate ready for college and career.
   • Policy Engagement: Leaders engage with policymakers and stakeholders to collaborate on education policies focused on improving education for all students.

Date Exhibit Adopted: March 27, 2018