WNEG-TV

STEPHENS COUNTY - The state has recognized the Stephens County School System as being a Board of Distinction, which Superintendent Sherrie Whiten tells me, means they go above and beyond what is required of them.

"One thing our board really felt like they wanted to do last year was adopt a code of ethics," which, Whiten explains, is an outline of what the community should expect of their school system.

"It looks at a lot of different areas: Our vision as a school board, improvement, our organizational structure, our policy development, how the board interacts with personnel, and what responsibilities and roles they have in the different areas," continues Whiten.

She says they wanted to be as transparent with the community as possible because, after all, the students are their first priority. "We've got to be focused on student achievement and what we can do for our students. It's important to have a code of ethics and everyone be familiar with it," adds Whiten.

The House has passed Senate Bill 84, which requires all school districts to adopt a code of ethics.

The bill would also make it illegal for board members to hire their relatives or for relatives to do business with their employers, from now on.

The revised bill now goes back to the Senate for a vote before the Governor can sign it into law.