Legal consultant briefs Hopewell Valley board on School Ethics Act: conflicts, social media, email pitfalls

The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education received its annual School Ethics Act and board code of ethics briefing from the district's legal consultant, covering conflicts of interest, confidentiality, advisory-opinion timing and limits on individual board members' communications.

Paul, the district's legal consultant, told trustees that the School Ethics Act is designed to keep public trust and to prevent conflicts or the appearance of conflicts. He summarized the statute and guidance, saying, "the key here is to avoid conflict or conduct which is a violation of the public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that such trust is being violated." He emphasized that the code applies to board members and that the board's role is policy-making, planning and appraisal, not day-to-day administration: "You are not here to run the schools. You are here to see that the schools are well run. Your role is policy making, planning, and appraisal."

The consultant reviewed several practical rules and…