Kiggens-Leifheit -- a conflict of interest?

Amber Kiggens-Leifheit, Marshfield School District employee and treasurer of the school district's Yes Committee (responsible for pushing the recent referendum through) is running for a seat on the school board. But is she even eligible?

According to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, there are many qualifications and qualities which experienced school board members have indicated are important to school board membership.

Among them is this: Freedom from conflict with any other interest.

Here's a direct quote from WASB's "Guide for Candidates"--

"The code of ethics for local governmental officials prohibits any local public official from using his or her office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for private benefit for himself or herself, or his or her immediate family, or for an organization with which he or she is associated. Further, board members are prohibited by a criminal statute from having private, pecuniary interests, either direct or indirect, in school district contracts of more than $15,000 in any year. Some limited exceptions to this prohibition are enumerated in the Wisconsin statutes (see s.946.13). The state common law also may prohibit school board members from being employed by the school district where they are on the board and may restrict other private activities of board members."

Marshfield School Watch contacted the Marshfield School District to request a copy of the Board of Education's conflict of interest policy. We were provided a copy of Wisconsin statute 946.13 and two pages of "ethics/roles and responsibilities" of school board members. It reads like an oath that all school board members should take. The third item on the list reads, "I must avoid all conflicts of interest, both pecuniary and nonpecuniary." Number six on the list reads, "I am a local legislator, but I must work under state and federal laws."

I second list details what all school board members will strive to do. Number three on this list is "render all decisions based on the available facts and my independent judgment, and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special interest groups." (That would certainly include the Yes Committee!) A similar item on the list says that school board members should "take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration...." This second list also has another statement regarding conflicts of interest. Board members must "avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using my Board position for personal or partisan gain."

Amber Kiggens-Leifheit is an employee of the school district, and the treasurer of the Yes Committee. According to the the Wisconsin statutes referenced above, public officials--including school board members--cannot benefit from a contract with the school district that exceed $15,000 a year. As a substitute teacher and director of the student mentor program, how much does Amber Kiggens-Leifheit make each year as an employee of the Marshfield School District? Not only that, but as treasurer of the Yes Committee, one could easily argue that that her actions in that capacity do not meet the Wisconsin Association of School Board's definition of "freedom from conflict with any other interest" or the Marshfield Board of Education's policy of refusing to surrender judgment to individuals or special interest groups.

So, what happens if someone should formally contest Kiggens-Leifheit's eligibility to serve on the board. Does that make the election null and void? Would it therefore remove her from the ballot? That would leave two candidates and two open seats. It's an interesting dilemma, no?