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Board of Education to vote on new code of ethics for educators Monday, Jun 9, 2008 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The state Board of Education is scheduled to vote today on a new code of ethics for Arkansas educators. The Arkansas Education Association has said it supports the new code but wants the board to postpone implementing it so the Department of Education and school districts have time to inform teachers about it. The establishment of an ethics code is required by Act 846 of 2007, which created a 15-member Professional Licensure Standards Board. Members of the new board are appointed by the Education Board. The board will consider the proposed code at a time when officials in some Arkansas school districts are dealing with recently highly-publicized allegations of unprofessional conduct by educators. Among them, former Booneville Superintendent Bobby Ashley was fired after being accused of having sex with another school employee on school property. Former Springdale teacher Janice Dodson was arrested at school on suspicion of public intoxication and former Springdale teacher Patricia Miller was arrested at school on suspicion of driving under the influence. The proposed code would require educators to maintain professional relationships with students; maintain competence in their field; fulfill all reporting requirements; be responsible stewards of public funds and property; refrain from using their positions for personal gain; and keep in confidence standardized testing materials and private information about students and colleagues. It also would require educators to refrain from using, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, or unauthorized drugs at school or school-sponsored activities involving students. The code includes rules for the Professional Standards Licensure Board to follow in investigating complaints and recommending disciplinary action, if appropriate, to the Education Board. It also sets forth a schedule of licensure fees and procedures to follow when an educator requests a hearing on a proposed disciplinary action. Possible disciplinary actions include a fine of up to $100, a written warning, a written reprimand, probation, suspension of a teaching license and revocation of a license. In a letter dated Thursday to Education Board President Diane Tatum, AEA Executive Director Rich Nagel and President Daniel Marzoni said the teacher's union has for more than 20 years supported the idea of establishing a licensure standards board for educators. The union supported and worked to pass Act 846. Nagel and Marzoni also asked that the board not implement the schedule of licensure fees until Sept. 1 and not implement the rest of the code until Jan. 30, 2009. "The rules will be better understood and produce more change if the Department of Education, school districts and other providers have sufficient time to develop and offer quality professional development covering the rules for all license holders," Nagel and Marzoni wrote. They also said the code would be more effective if the Legislature were to pass laws giving the licensure board power to subpoena people to appear at hearings and exempting from the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act any investigative information upon which no final action is taken. |
