District 300 approves ethics policy

To stub out potential pay-to-play deals, the Community Unit Community Unit District 300 board has approved a conflict of interest policy that prohibits the district from conducting business with firms and vendors that have donated to a district campaign in the last two years.

Board members voted 5-2 Monday night in favor of the proposal. Board members Karen Roeckner and Dave Alessio voted against the policy.

The policy does not apply to contributions from vendors or companies awarded contracts through the competitive bidding process, or donations by individual business owners or employees, board President Joe Stevens said.

However, vendors that are not subject to the competitive bidding process - such as architects, auditors and law firms - are barred from contributing to district campaigns. The school board is permitted to use those services without first obtaining bids.

Board member John Ryan first introduced the policy in 2007, but the measure was defeated because board members said they saw no evidence of pay-to-play in the district.

But since a state law passed in 2008 and a federal investigation into the administration of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Ryan said reintroducing the policy was timely.

"The view of the committee was to revisit the policy to make sure the district is in compliance with the state," Ryan said. "The original policy was broad. This policy now excludes anything that would fall under state guidelines for competitive quotes and bids. Rather than double up, state law will take precedence in those instances and our policy will kick in for everything else."