St Andrews Christian Cllege BOARD CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY April 2011
St Andrews Christian Cllege 2 Bard Cnflict f Interest Plicy Plicy Dcument Infrmatin Plicy Name Bard Cnflict f Interest Plicy Authr/Supervisr Acknwledgement St Andrews Bard Other Plicy Relatinships Cllege Cnstitutin Relevant Audience St Andrews Bard Key Dates Date f Issue/Last Revisin April 2011/August 2015 Date submitted t Bard f Directrs April 2011 Date Set fr Review August 2016 c:\users\shaun\dcuments\stacc 2015\stacc2015\2015 additins\website\bard cnflict f interest plicy.dcx
St Andrews Christian Cllege 3 Bard Cnflict f Interest Plicy Plicy fr Cnflict f Interest Objective T ensure Bard members act in the interest f the Schl, nt bringing persnal r financial interests t the Bard table; t prvide a mechanism that allws fr interest t be declared s as t maintain apprpriate accuntability. General Principles Cnflict f interest is defined as a circumstance where the duties and respnsibilities f a Bard member twards the Schl verlap with their private interests. This results in a situatin where the Bard member may be tempted t make decisins fr reasns ther than the best interests f the Schl There are three specific types f cnflict f interest: Actual cnflict a real cnflict exists between the member s private interests and the interests f the Schl Ptential cnflict a member s private interests d nt currently cnflict with thse f the Schl, but culd ptentially cnflict in the future Perceived cnflict a third party culd reasnably believe a cnflict exists Fr the remainder f this plicy dcument these three categries f cnflict will all be cnsidered equivalent. N special treatment will be accrded ne type f cnflict abve anther Private interests can be divided int tw categries: Pecuniary interests exist where there is financial gain r lss invlved, even if mney des nt specifically change hands. This wuld include an nging financial relatinship such as being a paid emplyee f the Schl r leasing prperty t the Schl Nn-pecuniary interests exist when n financial cmpnent exists but an interest exists due t relatinships, scial r cultural ties r invlvement in an utside rganisatin When a cnflict is identified, there are a number f actins that can be taken t address the cnflict depending n the severity f the cnflict. These are: Register The Bard member fficially infrms the wider Bard f the existence f a cnflict in a Bard meeting Restrict The Bard member is restricted in their participatin in the discussin r decisin making prcess pertaining t a particular subject where a cnflict exists Recruit A disinterested third party is appinted t versee part r all f a prcess where a cnflict exists (this methd is usually emplyed where multiple Bard members are cnflicted n a matter) c:\users\shaun\dcuments\stacc 2015\stacc2015\2015 additins\website\bard cnflict f interest plicy.dcx
St Andrews Christian Cllege 4 Bard Cnflict f Interest Plicy Remve The Bard member des nt participate in any way in a matter where a cnflict exists. This wuld include excusing themself frm a meeting where the matter is under discussin Relinquish The private interest creating the cnflict is relinquished by the Bard member, thus eliminating the cnflict Resign The Bard member resigns frm the Bard Specific Guidelines The verriding respnsibility f Bard members is t put the interests f the Schl abve all ther interests. Bard members will exercise this respnsibility by putting aside, in Bard deliberatins and decisins, any ther interest they may hld, whether it be as a member f anther rganizatin r as an individual Where Bard members are members f a grup served by the Schl they will nt act in any way t advance their individual interest. As previusly stated, the Bard s respnsibility is t act in a way which serves the general interests f thse served by the Schl, including the parents and students wh represent the mral wnership r the cmmunity served by the Schl. If the interests f an individual are advanced nly as part f a general grup (fr example the grup f parents at the Schl), n persnal cnflict exists prvided the Bard member satisfies themselves befre Gd that their decisin was made t serve the interest f thers [Example: A Bard member is the parent f a child in grade 3. In discussing the budget the Bard must decide whether the Schl mves t triple streaming, and the Principal explains this will enable a streaming f classes, with children selected accrding t ability. The parent Bard member must make a decisin based n the general needs f the Schl and all children, rather than whether an individual child is likely t benefit frm the decisin r nt. Nte that prper plicy gvernance helps reslve these ptential cnflicts as the Bard is making nly plicy level decisins. The executin f the plicies is entirely up t the principal. This makes it easier fr Bard members t separate their Bard-member-plicy-gvernance rle frm their parenteducatr-and-advcate-fr-their-child rle, which is exercised in relatinship with that child s teacher r the principal separately, and utside f any Bard cntext.] Where Bard members have a pecuniary interest in a matter they will declare their interest and remve themselves frm the matter in questin [Example: a Bard member s building cmpany is tendering fr wrk at the Schl. The Bard member wuld nt take part in discussins r decisins abut awarding the cntract]. This principle (abve) des nt apply when the member is affected as part f a general class f persns, as in parents affected by the setting f Schl fees If a Bard member identifies, r is alerted t, a cnflict f interest fr themselves, r anther Bard member, they are bligated t register the cnflict with the wider Bard at a Bard meeting and have the cnflict recrded in the minutes f the meeting c:\users\shaun\dcuments\stacc 2015\stacc2015\2015 additins\website\bard cnflict f interest plicy.dcx
St Andrews Christian Cllege 5 Bard Cnflict f Interest Plicy If a Bard member registers a nn-pecuniary interest the Bard may then decide, by vte, whether the member shuld remve themselves frm the matter, restrict themselves in sme way r take n actin at all, depending n the severity f the cnflict [Example: a Bard member is president f a cricket club which seeks t use the Schl val. The Bard discussin is, at a plicy level, whether utside use f the val is cnsistent with Bard plicy. The Bard member wuld nrmally declare an interest but still take part in the general plicy discussin the use f val by grups in general. Nte that implementing any such plicy wuld, in any case, be delegated t the staff thrugh the Principal, s the Bard member cncerned is making n direct decisin abut their wn interest] If a Bard member has a clear nging pecuniary interest (as ppsed t a shrt term interest in a specific matter) they must seek t reslve the resulting cnflict at the earliest apprpriate pprtunity. In this cntext reslving the cnflict must invlve relinquishing the interest r resigning their psitin n the Bard If any interest exists fr a clse family member f a Bard member (such as a child r spuse) then that interest shall be cnsidered t als apply t the Bard member themselves. In this case the Bard member shuld respnd as if the cnflict was their wn c:\users\shaun\dcuments\stacc 2015\stacc2015\2015 additins\website\bard cnflict f interest plicy.dcx