The board understands the desire of students, parents, or others to give gifts to show appreciation of a school district employee. Rather than giving gifts, the board encourages, as more welcome and more appropriate, the writing of letters to express gratitude and appreciation.
An employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, solicit, accept or receive any gift having a value of $35 or more from parents, students, or other individuals in one calendar day. A gift to an employee or an employee’s family member made because of the employee’s position with the school district, with a value of $15 or more, shall be reported on a form provided by the county auditor. It shall be the responsibility of both the employee accepting a gift and the donor to file the disclosure report.
Employees are prohibited from accepting things of material value from a company or entity doing business or hoping to do business with the school district. However, employees may accept minor items which are generally distributed by companies through public relations programs. It shall be within the discretion of the superintendent to determine what qualifies as a minor item.
Gifts of food and beverage to a school district employee, with a value of $15 or more, need not be reported if the food or beverage is consumed in the presence of the donor.
Employees shall refrain from giving gifts to school district employees who exercise administrative or supervisory jurisdiction over them indirectly or directly. Further, the collection of money for gifts for other employees shall also be discouraged except in special circumstances, such as, but not limited to, bereavement, serious illness, or retirement.
Gifts received and accepted from immediate family members or relatives of the fourth degree shall be exempt from this policy unless the relative is acting as an agent for a person not so related.
An employee may receive a gift on behalf of the school district, if the gift is in conformance with board policy.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§68B.1, .5, .8, .11(4), 722.1, .2 (1991).
1972 Op. Att’y Gen. 276.
1970 Op. Att’y Gen. 319.
Cross Reference: 221 Gifts to Board of Directors Members
Approved: 3-31-92
Reviewed: 8-08-22
Revised:
