ASD Code of Conduct Discussion on January 30

On January 30, the Alpine School Board will be discussing their priorities at their semi-annual Board Retreat. In the past, this has included a review of its Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct describes the way members of the Board are supposed to conduct themselves in regard to other Board members and the school District. Much of it is a useful, and should be praised and supported. 

But there are a few things about this code that are troublesome. They are these points:

1.  "Have the courage to speak your perspective and then when the decision is made support the Board and Administration.
Be accountable for policies and decisions made by the board.
Support the Board and Staff once a decision is made."

2. "Achieve Unity and Trust
Show unity as a board.
Have faith in the administrators."

3. It fails to reference the families or voters of the District.

School Boards were set up to represent the interests of the people in the District in which they serve, to hold the District accountable to the voters and taxpayers. These points of the Code of Conduct suggest this role has been turned on its head in Alpine, and the Board is supposed to represent the District to the people.

I have a hard time imagining any other legislative body abiding by such rules. Requiring every member to be accountable for a rule or policy once a decision has been made undermines the representative role which Board members are elected to fill. 

If the legislature operated under this policy, representatives could not go back to their constituents and tell them how they had voted against such and such a bill. It would preclude them from responding to a constituent who asked for a certain bill to be introduced, if it went contrary to recently-passed legislation.

How would our U.S. Congressional representatives feel if constrained by such a policy? How would you feel about how Congress operated if it was expected to represent the President's and Congress' wishes to the people, and not express dissent?

Board members should be free to communicate their disagreement of District policies, just as they are free to communicate their support of such policies. If they can't communicate to their own constituents their dissatisfaction with a certain rule or policy just the same as they can their satisfaction, constituents can't know whether or not they agree with that individual and whether to re-elect them.

Trying to create unity is a noble goal, but hardly to be expected in a civic body. Dissent in a civic body is healthy. It shows that a variety of views are represented and considered in that body. Creating an illusion of unity by requiring Board members to act as though they agree with every policy doesn't help anyone, least of all those who elected the members and pay for the school District.

Which brings us to the problem with the charge in the Code of Conduct to "have faith in the administrators." Of course Board members should have general trust in the qualifications and competency of the administrators, but that trust should not extend to every action taken by them, in the sense that Board members should never question them. The Board's role is to scrutinize everything administrators do in their roles as powerful government officials, to protect the voters and taxpayers from possible District overreach and misdirection. 

James Madison

A school board is supposed to function as a check on the power of the administration. James Madison said, "If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions."

In a school district, the Board is that auxiliary precaution. 

It is an abiding principle that no matter how good the people in government are as individuals, they must be watched and held to a critical standard when they wield power as public officials. In reality,  government policies and the actions of administrators can only be improved by being appropriately challenged and held accountable to a school board.

Reflecting on the state legislature or U.S. Congress helps highlight how mistaken it is to ask for elected representatives to not question the actions of the officials and departments they vote to fund and regulate. Can you imagine the U.S. Congress being asked to have faith in the administrators of the Federal Department of Education, or Defense, or State? Of course not. They scrutinize and reevaluate and say "no" to more funding and "yes" to good policy changes, and that is the appropriate role of a school board.

My third and final concern with the Code of Conduct is its failure to reference the families or voters of the District. While it directs the Board to honor and support the will of the administration or Board many times, it never mentions honoring or protecting the people who elected the Board, and to whom the Board is ultimately accountable.

Having a Code of Conduct is a good thing. But this one could be greatly improved, and should be. The lines referenced above should be stricken from the Code of Conduct, and acknowledgement of the Board's responsibility to the voters, families and taxpayers should be added. 

 If you feel you'd like to see changes as well - or if you disagree with me and like it the way it is - contact the Board and let them know your thoughts.

Further Information:
Read the Alpine School District Code of Conduct for the Board of Education.

Alpine District's explanation of the Code of Conduct: About the Board

Toward Openness and Accountability to Parents, from Fortifying Our Families.org

The comments under this blog post by Alpine School Board member Wendy Hart: 
Code of Conduct

What To Do:

1. Contact the Board and let them know what you think about the Code of Conduct. If you'd like to see any changes, let them know what those are. You can find the Board contact info here. 

If you'd like to find the specific Board member who represents you, check here. You'll need to click on each map until you find the one of your area, then match the Precinct number up with the corresponding Board member. (Wish there were an easier way; if anyone knows of one, please tell me.)

2. Attend the Board Retreat, which is open to the public, although they won't be taking any public comments at this meeting.

Jan. 30, 2013
Mountainland Applied Technology College, Room 230-N
2301 W. Ashton Blvd.
Lehi, UT

8:30 - 9:00 Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 Past Basket Items Report (Priorities)
9:30 - 10:30 Current Basket Items Conversation/Suggestions
10:30 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 12:00 Current Basket Items/Rating/Ranking to Prioritize
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch
12:30 - 2:30 Question: "How do we unite and move forward as a Board to make sure these priorities are realized?"

School Boards were set up to represent the interests of the people in the District in which they serve. They can only do that well if they know what you want, so get to know your representative - via email, or by attending a Board meeting and becoming acquainted - and stay in touch with them when the Board is handling issues that are important to you.