Ethically
Speaking
Mark Boardman
Attorney Boardman, Carr, Petelos, Watkins & Ogle P.C.
In the last edition of CLAS School Leader, we discussed seminars. Now let’s examine who can pay the seminar expenses and what you can keep when you attend a seminar. Even though you personally are the one obtaining the professional development credit, if your school system deems it as an appropriate expense, your school system can pay for your registration fee, meals, and accommodations, including if you travel out of state. Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion 2011-12, page 8. We all know that the Ethics Act prohibits a public employee or public official from receiving a “thing of value” for the purpose of corruptly influencing the employee or official and that a public employee or official cannot use their position or office for personal gain. But reimbursement of expenses is not personal gain. Likewise, even if you obtain very valuable property given to you free for your attendance at the conference, you may keep it, unless there is a particular policy of your board of education which requires you to give it to the school system. For example, in 2008, the 22
Winter Issue 2022
