School Board considers code of conduct

The Lee County School Board is considering telling itself how to behave.

The school district already has a code of conduct for students, as well as for visitors and employees. Today, School Board members will hear a proposed code of conduct for themselves.

If the document is adopted, members would vow to refrain from using their position for personal benefit, to educate themselves about issues before voting and to work together "in a spirit of harmony, respect and cooperation despite differences of opinion." The code also states the board's beliefs, such as prioritizing the education of children and balancing that with proper stewardship of tax money.

Board member Jeanne Dozier brought the idea to School Board Attorney Keith Martin and asked him to create a draft policy for Lee County, Martin said.

Dozier's suggested code of conduct is based on one adopted by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Martin said.

"She thought (it) was well designed and I did take that and draft it to what would fit our own policy structure," he said.

The draft is nearly identical to the one posted on the organization's Web site.

Dozier could not be reached for comment.

The proposed policy is on the agenda for today's School Board briefing meeting, which starts at 3 p.m. in the Dr. James A. Adams building in downtown Fort Myers.

The code of conduct suggestion could be a response to continued conflict on the board between Bob Chilmonik and other members, who have quibbled for the past year over district finances. Chilmonik said he'd rather the board spend its time addressing educational issues, not governance policies.

"If I didn't have a sense of humor, I would have taken this thing personal," Chilmonik said. "To me, it's nonsense."

Chilmonik, who said he supported most of the code's clauses in spirit, questioned whether the code would violate constitutionally protected free speech in its last clause, which requires that "communication with all stakeholders and the media should be conducted in accordance with board policy."

"We need to have the ability to be unrestricted within the rules of common courtesy," he said.

Nationally, other school boards have adopted codes of conduct for their members.

The Virginia School Boards Association also has a recommended school board code of conduct, said Rosemary Webb, clerk to the board of Alexandria City Schools in Alexandria, Va.

Webb said she could not think of a situation where the code was needed in Alexandria since it was first adopted by the board there in 2000.

Alexandria's policy includes similar provisions to the one proposed for Lee County. Members there also promise to "adhere to the principle that the public's business should be conducted in the public view by observing and following the letter and spirit of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act."