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Board moves to align staff conflict‑of‑interest policy with state rule, tables vote for 30 days
Summary
The board reviewed a proposed revision to policy GAG to align with state rules limiting employment of immediate family of the superintendent to certain administrative roles; the revision will sit for 30 days and return for a vote in December.
The Harris County Board of Education reviewed on Nov. 13 a proposed revision to board policy GAG (staff conflict of interest) that would bring local policy into alignment with the state rule. Under the proposed change, the district would prohibit an immediate family member of the superintendent from being employed as a school principal, assistant principal or district administrative staff — rather than maintaining a broader ban on any immediate family member being employed in the district.
Dr. Finney explained the recommendation is intended to make the district consistent with state rules and to avoid unnecessarily limiting the applicant pool during the upcoming superintendent search. "We don't want to limit the possible applicants that we would have for this position," he said, explaining spouses or partners who are educators should not be automatically excluded from consideration for employment.
Board members discussed the district's history with the prior stricter policy, the policy's purpose and the procedural requirement that policy revisions sit for 30 days before a vote. The board did not vote on the revision at the Nov. 13 meeting; it will be considered at the December meeting after the required waiting period.
