REPORTING OF ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL ACTIVITIES
All employees shall be responsible and accountable for adhering to all Monroe City School Board policies, and to all state and federal laws, regulations, and procedures governing the operation of the school system. Employees therefore have a duty to promptly and confidentially report any illegal or unethical act, practice or activity when they have a reasonable belief that a School Board member, employee or official, or an outside agency transacting business with the School Board is involved in such activity. It is the policy of the School Board to protect employees who have reported such activities in keeping with School Board policies.
GUIDELINES
- Matters to be reported include any illegal, fraudulent, or dishonest activity arising in connection with school system operations or activities.
- Unethical activities to be reported under this policy are those acts or practices that are prohibited by the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§42:1101-42:1170).
- Reports of illegal or unethical acts, practices or activities shall be made confidentially to one’s immediate supervisor, except when the act, practice or activity involves the supervisor, in which event the report shall be made to the Superintendent or his/her designee.
- Reports of illegal or unethical acts, practices or activities involving the Superintendent shall be made to the School Board President. Such reports shall be kept confidential to the extent possible consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.
- All reports of suspected illegal or unethical acts, practices, or activities shall be promptly investigated by the Superintendent or his/her designee in accordance with School Board policy.
- After a determination that illegal or unethical acts have occurred involving an employee, the Superintendent shall take appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination, and/or report such illegal or unethical activities to the appropriate authorities. A report of the Superintendent’s findings shall then be made to the School Board.
- Any employee who makes unsubstantiated allegations or reports which are considered to have been made falsely or maliciously may be subject to disciplinary action.
RETALIATION PROHIBITED
Monroe City School Board employees and officials shall not take retaliatory action, or threaten retaliatory action against any person who in good faith and pursuant to this policy reports any workplace practice, act or activity which he/she reasonably believes to be in violation of any state or federal law, regulations, or procedures, including the state code of ethics for public employees or elected public officials, or against anyone who in good faith, and after having informed the School Board thereof:
- discloses or threatens to disclose a workplace act, practice, or activity that is a violation of law;
- provides information to or testifies before any public body conducting an investigation, hearing or inquiry into any violation of the law; or
- objects to or refuses to participate in an employment act, practice or activity that is in violation of law.
The term retaliation shall include, but not be limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal, harassment or adverse change in the terms and conditions of employment, either at the time the report is made or any time thereafter.
New policy: June, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§, ,
Board minutes, 6-17-14
Monroe City School Board