Conflicts of Interest

Employees have an obligation to conduct business within guidelines that prohibit actual or potential conflicts of interest. The purpose of this policy is to provide employees with clarification on issues of acceptable standards of conduct regarding relatives and transactions with outside firms and individuals.

Actual or potential conflict of interest occurs when an employee is in a position to influence a decision that may result in a personal gain for that employee or a relative of that employee. For the purposes of this policy, a relative is a person who is defined as a relative under the School’s hiring policy (see Section on Anti-Nepotism).

No person employed by Life Essence Academy may be directly supervised by an immediate relative (see Section on — Anti-Nepotism). This policy will apply for part-time work as well as for full-time employment.

A dependent of a Board member (a person for whom more than half of whose support is obtained from a Board member) cannot be hired by the School except upon consent of the Board. Neither a Board member or their spouse or person who lives with a Board member, as explained in Section on Anti - Nepotism, may be hired or retained by the School.

School business dealings with outside firms should not result in personal financial gains for any employee or his or her relatives (see Section on Anti-Nepotism). An employee who has, or whose relative has a substantial personal interest in any decision of the School, shall make known the interest in the official records of the School, and shall refrain from participating in or influencing the School’s position on any matter as an employee in such a decision. Personal gain may result not only in cases where an employee or relative has a significant ownership of a firm with which the School does business but also when an employee or relative receives any kick-back, bribe, substantial gift, or special consideration as a result of any transaction or dealings involving the School. All transactions that can be interpreted to involve personal financial gain shall require specific Board approval.

No employee of Life Essence Academy shall sell any item or services, of educational nature, to students and parents of the school under any guise.

Additionally, no employee of Life Essence Academy shall accept gifts from any persons, group, or entity doing, or desiring to do, business with the School. The acceptance of any business related gratuity is specifically prohibited, except for widely distributed, advertising items of nominal value.