Board Discusses Nepotism Policy

The Board of Education discussed a proposed Nepotism policy which would limit the hiring of family members within the district, however it would grandfather in current relatives.

This policy, which the board's policy committee has been working on all year, applies to full and part-time employees, but the grandfather clause does not apply to current summer workers or substitute teachers, meaning a current substitute who has a relative in the district would not be allowed to work in Summit after September 2010, when the policy would take effect if adopted.

"This policy is a way to avoid the sense of impropriety," said policy committee chair Michelle Stevenson.

A "relative" is defined in the policy as an individual's spouse, by marriage or civil union, domestic partner, or the individual's or spouse's parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother or half-sister, "whether the relative is related to the individual or the individual's spouse by blood, marriage or adoption."

However, the policy does outline certain exemptions by which the superintendent can permit employment of a relative of a staff member, including in "matters of safety or security; demonstrated shortages of qualified applicants in areas requiring specialized expertise; or emergency vacancies that must be filled on a temporary basis," the policy reads.

The policy also prohibits a staff member from exercising direct or indirect authority, supervision, or control over a relative.

While the policy was only distributed to staff Thursday morning, a few were on hand to voice their concerns.

Patty Natale, the librarian at the Jefferson School, read a letter from a former colleague at Jefferson, Irene Madden, who taught for 30 years.

In the letter Madden lists several Jefferson staff members who would not have been hired if this policy had previously existed, including Natale, and highlighted the many qualifications and attributes the district would be without if this policy had exempted them from being hired.

Erin Field, a guidance counselor at Summit High School, raised concerns over the policy's effect on those currently working in the district as she is married to a staff member.

Stevenson clarified that the policy would not prohibit a staff member from being promoted except in instances where that person would be a direct or indirect supervisor of their relative.

The policy will have a first reading on June 17 at the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the library at Summit High School.