Lee’s presentation included several examples of ethics violations, ranging from the misuse of board emails to express personal views on mask mandates to the inappropriate sharing of non-public information. These instances led to recommendations for reprimands. The importance of recusal was underscored in cases where board members or their immediate family had personal or financial involvement in district matters. One highlighted case involved a board member whose child was employed by the district; the advice was for the board member to recuse from matters related to the superintendent and the supervisor in the chain of command and the Union. Additionally, the presentation referenced a 2018 advisory opinion stating that an endorsement by a local or Statewide union does not create a per se future conflict of interest unless accompanied by a financial contribution intended to influence the member.

The issue of social media usage by board members was also on the agenda. The School Ethics Commission (SEC) advised that board members should use disclaimer statements when expressing personal opinions online to ensure their comments are not perceived as speaking on behalf of the board. Board members were reminded of the public’s perception of their actions and the impact on the community’s trust.

Board member certification was another topic of discussion, with the necessity of completing 16 hours of in-district training within a four-year period being essential for certification. The board members sought clarification on the distinction between recusing and abstaining from votes and how to appropriately use disclaimer statements on social media.

Superintendent Jack Hurley provided updates on various achievements and upcoming events within the district, including the High School consumer bowl team and the Academic Decathlon team’s successes. He congratulated the boys and girls swim teams on their recent victories and noted the registration for spring sports was open. Hurley also mentioned extracurricular activities such as the Computer Club’s leadership in the Hour of Code, the FBLA Club’s success at the regional competition, and the ongoing efforts of Heroes and Cool Kids to educate sixth graders about substance abuse. The band and choir’s Cafe Night fundraiser and the drama club’s preparation for the spring musical, “The Lightning Thief,” were also acknowledged.

The meeting addressed routine approvals, including 21 motions related to personnel matters like retirements and resignations. The Finance Committee reported on the January Treasures report, budget line transfers, and other agreements. A second reading for a policy and two regulations was presented by the Policy Committee, with a minor change noted for the grading regulation. Senate Bill 2599, which proposes raising the age requirement for school attendance from 16 to 18 years old, was also discussed.

The president of the board expressed gratitude to the Committees for their strategic integration of priorities for the next year, highlighting the preliminary budget work. The meeting concluded with two brief public comment periods, which received no comments, and an executive session to discuss one student issue and one contract issue.