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Policies and Regulations → Section G → GC → Ethics
Regulation: GCA-RA
Last revised: July 31, 2017
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and professionalism. This regulation sets forth expectations (in addition to those specifically addressed in Maryland ethics law and Montgomery County Board of Education Policy BBB, Ethics) and clarifies guidelines for MCPS employees to avoid conflicts of interest in their conduct and action to be taken in the event of a potential conflict of interest.
A. All employees are expected to interact with all students, parents/guardians, colleagues at all levels, and the community with the utmost integrity and professionalism.
B. MCPS employees are expected to be knowledgeable about and conduct themselves in accordance with this regulation and Board Policy BBB, Ethics, and to assume responsibility for ensuring that their behavior and activities are consistent with the policies of the Board and do not constitute a conflict of interest, in order to: 1. Promote the highest public confidence in the impartiality and independent judgment of MCPS employees in the discharge of their duties; and 2. Appropriately use MCPS resources to execute their duties for the public good.
C. It is a conflict of interest for an employee to 1. take advantage of relationships with students, parents/guardians, employees, or others doing business with the school system for personal benefit or to benefit another individual or entity, or 2. use their position, MCPS resources, and/or confidential or proprietary information acquired in their official school system position for personal benefit or to benefit another individual or entity.
D. Employees are encouraged to disclose potential conflicts of interest in advance or seek prior guidance regarding conduct about which there may be potential concerns.
E. Not all conflicts of interest are expressly referenced in this regulation. For instances not specifically covered by this regulation, or if there is a question of interpretation, a request for guidance should be made to 1. the employee’s principal or supervisor, as applicable; then 2. to the chief operating officer/designee if principals or supervisors have further questions, or, to the ethics officer according to the processes set forth in Policy BBB, Ethics, if the issue in question is covered by Board Policy BBB.