Issues that need to be to be clarified about 282.

The Board of Educational Examiners and the Iowa Department of Education need to clarify, explain, post on their web site and notify teachers and administrators that:

Iowa Code Section 282-25.3(6)f prohibits teachers and/or administrators from selling goods or services for personal advantage to the district’s students or parents.

Because “This code of professional conduct and ethics constitutes mandatory minimal standards of practice for all licensed practitioners as defined in Iowa Code chapter 272. The adherence to certain professional and ethical standards is essential to maintaining the integrity of the education profession.

The following issues need to be to be clarified and explained:

1) The teacher/administrator’s home school district is a “blackout area”, and that (s)he cannot conduct business with students and/or their parents, nor organizations whose primary clients and/or participants are students from the home school district.

2) That a clear and understandable “blackout notice” must appear on the home page of business websites, advertising, and on printed material, and other public information.

3) A properly worded statement must be used to screen phone inquiries. ie, "Do you have children in the ____ School district?"

4) Potential clients that are students and/or parents must be declined or referred elsewhere. They do not know the law, the teacher does.

5) Clarification that “a student is a student” 12 months a year, 24/7, until they graduate, move, transfer out, or drop out of the school district.

6) That where Iowa Code 282 and school district policy may conflict, Iowa Code 282 takes precedence.

7) That “working for a spouse” or being “the spouse of a teacher/administrator” is not a shelter from Educational Examiners 282. Such commercial activity DOES give "personal gain" to the teacher's family, thus to the teacher.

8) That teachers cannot compensate students to represent and/or sell for them, even if they sell only in another school district.