Magic City Acceptance Academy Board

Code of Ethics

 

 

The Magic City Acceptance Academy Governing Board (the board) desires to operate in the most ethical and conscientious manner possible and to that end the board adopts this Code of Ethics and each member of the board agrees that he or she will:

 

Domain I:  Governance Structure

1.Recognize that the authority of the board rests only with the board as a whole and not with individual members and act accordingly.

2.Support the delegation of authority for the day-to-day administration of the charter school to the school leader and act accordingly.

3.Honor the chain of command and refer problems or complaints consistent with the chain of command.

4.Recognize that the school leader should be present at all meetings of the board except whens his or her contract, salary or performance is under consideration.

5.Not undermine the authority of the school leader or school administration.

 

Domain II:  Strategic Planning

1.Reflect through actions that his or her first and foremost concern is for the educational welfare of the children attending the charter school.

2.Participate in all planning activities to develop the vision and goals of the board.

3.Work with the board and the school leader to ensure prudent and accountable uses of the resources of the charter school.

4.Render all decisions based on available facts and his or her independent judgment and refuse to surrender his or her judgment to individuals or special interest groups.

5.Uphold and enforce all applicable laws, all rules and guidelines of the Alabama State Board of Education and the Alabama Charter Commission and the board.

 

Domain III:  Board and Community Relations

1.Seek regular and systematic communications among the board and students, staff, and the community.

2. Communicate to the board and the school leader expressions of public reaction to board policies and charter school programs.

 

Domain IV:  Policy Development

1.Work with other board members to establish effective policies for the charter school.

2.Make decisions on policy matters only after full discussion at publicly held board meetings.

3.Periodically review and evaluate the effectiveness of policies on charter school programs and performance.

 

Domain V:  Board Meetings

1.Attend and participated in regularly scheduled and called board meetings.

2.Be informed and prepared to discuss issues to be considered on the board agenda.

3.Work with other board members in a spirit of harmony and cooperation in spite of differences of opinion that may arise during the discussion and resolution of issues at board meetings.

4.Vote for a closed executive session of the board only when applicable law or board policy requires consideration of a matter in executive session.

5.Maintain the confidentiality of all discussions and other matters pertaining to the board and the charter school, during executive session of the board.

6.Make decisions in accordance with the interests of the charter school as a whole and not any particular agreement thereof.

7.Express opinions before votes are cast, but after the board vote, abide by and support all majority decisions of the board.

 

Domain VI: Personnel

1.Consider the employment of personnel only after receiving and considering the recommendation of the school leader.

2.Support the employment of persons best qualified to serve as employees of the charter school and insist on regular and impartial evaluations of the charter staff.

3.Comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and all board policies regarding employment of family members.

 

Domain VII:  Financial Governance

1.Refrain from using the position of board member for personal or partisan gain or to benefit any person or entity over the interest of the charter school.

 

Conduct as a Board Member

1.Devote sufficient time, thought and study to the performance of the duties and responsibilities of a member of the board.

2.Become informed about current educational issues by individual study and through participation in programs providing needed education and training.

3.Communicate in a respectful professional manner with and about fellow board members.

4.Take no private action that will compromise the board or charter school administration.

5.Participate in all required training programs developed for board members by the board or State Board of Education.

6.In the annual report, submitted to the Alabama Charter Commission, disclose the status of board member compliance with the Code of Ethics.

 

Conflicts of Interest

1.Announce potential conflicts of interest before board action is taken.

2.Comply with the conflicts of interest policy of the board, all applicable state laws and Alabama State Board of Education standards, rules and guidelines.

 

Upon a motion supported by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, the board may choose to conduct a hearing concerning a possible violation of the Code of Ethics by a member of the board.

The board members accused of violating this Code of Ethics will have thirty (30) days’ notice prior to a hearing on the matter.  The accused board member may bring witnesses on his or her behalf to the hearing, and the board may elect to call witnesses to inquire into the matter.  If found by a vote of two-thirds of all members of the board that the accused board member has violated this Code of Ethics, the board shall determine the appropriate sanction.  A board member subject to sanction may, within thirty (30) days of such sanction vote, appeal such decision to the appropriate authority at the state level.  A record of the decision of the board to sanction a member for a violation of this Code of Ethics shall be placed in the permanent minutes of the board.