School Board Code of Ethics

There's a lot covered in the School Ethics Act enacted in 1991. The Department of Education website has a good summary with links to the law. The School Ethics Act N.J.S.A. 18A:12-21 et seq. holds school officials (board members, school administrators and NJSBA employees / officers) to a higher standard. This is all good. School board members are specifically reminded to follow the Code of Ethics N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1 (a) through (j) which applies only to school board members, also good. 

As an addition, I think all school board members should periodically review the entire School Ethics Act, and especially Findings, declarations N.J.S.A. 18A:12-22:

2. The Legislature find and declares:

a. In our representative form of government it is essential that the conduct of members of local boards of education and local school administrators hold the respect and confidence of the people. These board members and administrators must avoid conduct which is in violation of their public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that such trust is being violated.

b. To ensure and preserve public confidence, school board members and local school administrators should have the benefit of specific standards to guide their conduct and of some disciplinary mechanism to ensure the uniform maintenance of those standards among them.

L.1991,c.393,s.2.

Curious about New Jersey state laws? You can find general information here and search statutes here.