Here is a copy of the email I sent:
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:46:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Marshfield School Watch"
Subject: conflict of interest
To: "Laurel Carey"
Laurel:
I would like a copy of three items that are typically part of the orientation for new Board of Education members. In particular, these three items that fall under "general information":
c. Responsibilities of a Board member including clarification of whom one represents when speaking on Board matters (to avoid problems with people thinking what “you” say is what the Board says)
d. Conflict of Interest – rules and procedures for getting clarification
e. Ethics of being an elected official – what can and cannot be accepted
I am specifically interested in any information dealing with "conflicts of interest." I couldn't find any mention of this in the "policies governing the Board of education" posted on the district's web site, except as a reference that some information may be given during the orientation of new members. I would like a copy of that information.
Doug Seubert
Marshfield School Watch
*****
Here is the first reply back from the central office:
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:40:58 -0500
From: "Laurel Carey"
To: "Marshfield School Watch"
Subject: Re: conflict of interest
I'll have to forward this on to Mr. King. If it's not in the Policy
Manual I really don't know where else it would be. I know that Mr.
King consults with the legal department at the Wisconsin Association of
School Boards (WASB) quite a bit so he may have something in his
office.
*****
I had already gone to the WASB web site looking for the information there. I have already posted that information in previous posts. I included a quote from their policy handbook for school board members that references Wisconsin state statute 946.13.
*****
Second reply from central office:
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:39:35 -0500
From: "Laurel Carey"
To: marshfieldschoolwatch@yahoo.com
Subject: Conflict of Interest
Mr. Seubert,
Mr. King gave me two documents that he usually reviews with new School Board members. As they are only available in hard copy form I will be mailing these documents to you.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Laurel L. Carey
Secretary to the Director of Business Services
School District of Marshfield
*****
May I have the envelope, please?
(drum roll)....
I received the letter today. Just four sheets of paper, no cover letter, no additional explanation.
Here's what they sent:
Two of the four pages were from the Wisconsin statutes, 19.59 Codes of ethics for local government officials, employees and candidates. Here is the link if you want to see it for yourself: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/statutes/Stat0019.pdf (they sent me pages 20 and 21).
The other two pages were titled "Ethics/Roles and Responsibilities," which are two numbered lists of statements.
The first list is subtitled "WASB Public Responsibilities for School Board Members" and it is followed by a list of seven items. 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."
The second list is subtitled "As a member of my local Board of Education, I will strive to improve public education, and to that end I will:" and then it follows with a list of 11 items. 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 I will: "take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration." This second list also has another statement regarding conflicts of interest. I will: "avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using my Board position for personal or partisan gain."
*****
So, what I got from the school district was pretty much what Marshfield School Watch already researched. But it is confirmation that both the state statutes and the WASB consider conflict of interest to be a very serious matter. So now, my next step is to contact Mr. King directly and ask him point blank that if Amber Kiggens-Leifheit is an employee of the school district, and the treasurer of the Yes Committee, dose that constitute a conflict of interest? I am sure without hesitation he will say "no" and assume the case is closed.
That is why Marshfield School Watch has also contacted WASB directly. Here is a copy of that email:
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:06:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Marshfield School Watch"
Subject: conflict of interest
To: reloranta@wasb.org
Mr. Eloranta:
According to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, among the qualifications and qualities for school board members is the "freedom from conflict with any other interest."
Marshfield is holding elections for our Board of Education on Tuesday, April 1st. One of the candidates on the ballot is an employee of Marshfield School District and an officer (treasurer) of a political action committee called the Yes Committee that was very vocal about passing a recent school budget override referendum.
Many people are asking about possible conflicts of interest if this candidate will remain a school district employee and keep her post on the political action committee, while at the same time serving on a board that will be deciding on another referendum, this time for the building of a new middle school.
I've asked for a copy of the policy manual for our school board, particularly the policies regarding conflict or interest. I have not heard back from our Board of Education office yet.
Does the Wisconsin Association of School Boards have any guidelines regarding conflict of interest? Any information that you can share would be appreciated.
Doug Seubert
Marshfield School Watch
*****
As of today, still no reply. I will try someone higher up than Mr. Eloranta. There is also a National Association of School Boards that we plan to contact, as well as the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
The good news is, this doesn't have to be decided before the election. There may or may not be a statute of limitations for contesting an election, however. We are still researching that. But I am aware of some cases where elections have been overturned as it were, or declared "null and void" or something to that effect. The point being, there are remedies. They may take time, but they also take perseverance. Marshfield School Watch is determined to get an answer either way. If it is found there is no conflict, great! But if there is, don't we want a Board of Education that follows the law?
Of course there are other outcomes: Kiggens-Leifheit might not get elected, or she might decide to drop out, or she might decide to terminate her employment with the school district while serving on the school board. Either of these options will cause "conflict of interest" to be a non-issue.
I'll continue to post updates on the new Marshfield School Watch web site, as well as on here.
VISIT OUR NEW WEB SITE: http://www.marshfieldschoolwatch.org/
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