The School Board expects all its employees to be honest and ethical in their conduct, and to comply with applicable State and Federal law, Board policies and administrative procedures. Pursuant to State law, the Board expects support staff members to report any violation or suspected violation of any Federal, State or local law, policy, or regulation committed by any employee, or agent of an agency or independent contractor which is doing business with the Board, which creates and presents a substantial or specific danger to the public's health, safety, or welfare to their immediate supervisors. Additionally, pursuant to State law, support staff members are expected to report any act or suspected act of gross mismanagement, malfeasance, misfeasance, gross waste of public funds, suspected or actual Medicaid fraud or abuse, or gross neglect of duty committed by an employee or agent of an agency or independent contractor which is doing business with the Board.

It is the responsibility of an employee who is aware of conduct on the part of any Board member or employee that possibly violates Federal or State law, or Board policy, to call this conduct to the attention of his/her immediate supervisor. If the employee's immediate supervisor is not responsive or is the employee whose behavior is in question, the employee should report the alleged misconduct to the Superintendent.

After such a report is made, the immediate supervisor will ask that the employee's report be put in writing. Any employee making such a report shall be protected from discipline, retaliation, or reprisal for making such report as long as the employee made a reasonable and good faith effort to determine the accuracy of any information reported. Employees are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for purposely, knowingly, or recklessly making a false report under this policy. Conversely, employees are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, if they are aware of a violation of Federal, State, or local law that the Board has the authority to correct and they do not make a report confirmed in writing to their immediate supervisor.

If the alleged misconduct that is reported involves a Board member or the Superintendent, the report is to be filed directly with the Board Attorney who is hereby authorized to engage outside counsel to conduct the investigation concerning the alleged misconduct.

Upon receipt of a report made by an support staff member pursuant to this policy, an investigation shall be conducted by the Superintendent or Board Attorney consistent with the procedures described in F.S. 112.3189.

F.S. 112.3187, 112.3189