| The School Board of Polk County |
| Bylaws & Policies |
| Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013. |
4214 - SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS OR UNAUTHORIZED COMPENSATION
Pursuant to State law no support staff member shall solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient, including, but not limited to, a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service, that is based upon any understanding that the vote, official action, or judgement of the support staff member would be influenced thereby.
For purposes of this policy, the meaning of "gift" shall be consistent with the definition of the term in F.S. 112.312(12)(a), and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
| A. | real property | |
| B. | the use of real property | |
| C. | tangible or intangible personal property | |
| D. | a preferential rate or terms on a debt, loan, goods or services | |
| E. | forgiveness of an indebtedness | |
| F. | transportation, other than that provided to other employees in relation to officially approved government business, lodging, or parking | |
| G. | food or beverage | |
| H. | membership dues | |
| I. | entrance fees, admission fees, or tickets to events, performances, or facilities | |
| J. | plants, flowers, or floral arrangements | |
| K. | services provided by persons pursuant to a professional license or certificate | |
| L. | other personal services for which a fee is normally charged | |
| M. | any other similar service or thing having an attribute value |
It is the policy of the School Board that support staff members may accept gifts of nominal value from students or parents in celebration of a holiday, the staff member's birthday, or at the end of a school year.
The Superintendent may approve acts of generosity to individual staff members in unusual situations.
Pursuant to State law, no support staff member of the District, or his/her spouse or minor child shall, at any time, accept compensation, payment, or anything of value when the support staff member knows, or, with the exercise of reasonable care, should know, that it was given to influence the vote or other action in which the support staff member was expected to participate in his/her official capacity. Furthermore, support staff members shall not accept any compensation, payment or anything of value from a vendor after a decision has been made to purchase equipment, supplies, or services from said vendor.
In addition, support staff members who recommend purchases shall not enter into a contractual relationship with a vendor seeking to do business with the District, or a vendor with whom the District is doing business, whereby an individual support staff member receives compensation, payment, or anything of value for services rendered.
Such compensation includes, but is not limited to, cash, checks, stocks, or any other form of securities, and gifts as defined in State law, albeit unsolicited, from a vendor, the support staff member shall immediately notify the Principal, in writing, that s/he received such compensation and shall thereafter promptly transmit said compensation to the Principal.
Any support staff member who has knowledge of, or suspects that, this policy has been violated is expected to report this violation or suspected violation in accordance with Policy 4211 – Whistleblower Protection.
See also Policy 4129, Conflict of Interest.
F.S. 112.312, 112.313, 1006.32
2 C.F.R. 200.318
© Neola 2015