Williston Schools
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Purpose
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The purpose of this Conflict of Interest Policy (the “policy”) is to protect Williston Families as Partners, Inc (the “Organization”) interests when it is considering taking an action or entering into a transaction that might benefit the private interests of a director, officer or interested person, result in the payment of excessive compensation to a director, officer or interested person. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflicts of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
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Definitions
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Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.
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A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:
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An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the Organization has a transaction or arrangement,
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A compensation arrangement with the Organization or with any entity or individual with which the Organization has a transaction or arrangement, or
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A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the Organization is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.
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Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that aren’t insubstantial. A financial interest isn’t necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article 3.2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
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Procedures
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In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
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After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the governing board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.
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Procedures for addressing the conflict of interest
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An interested person may make a presentation at the governing board or committee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest.
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The chairperson of the governing board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
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After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall determine whether the Organization can obtain, with reasonable efforts, a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest.
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If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement isn’t reasonably possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the governing board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in the Organization's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination, it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.
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Violations of the conflict of interest policy
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If the governing board or committee has reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
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If, after hearing the member’s response and after making further investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or committee determines the member has failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary or corrective action.
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Records of Proceedings
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The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain
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The names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the governing board’s or committee’s decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.
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The names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection with the proceedings.
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Compensation
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A voting member of the governing board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Organization for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.
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A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Organization for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.
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No voting member of the governing board or any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Organization, either individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.
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Annual Statements and Periodic Reviews
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Each director, principal officer, and member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms such person
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Has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy,
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Has read and understands the policy,
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Has agreed to comply with the policy, and
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Understands the Organization is charitable and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities that accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.
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To ensure the Organization operates in a manner consistent with charitable purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:
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Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable, based on competent survey information (if reasonably available), and the result of arm’s length bargaining.
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Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and arrangements with management organizations, if any, conform to the Organization’s written policies, are properly recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and services, further charitable purposes and do not result in inurement or impermissible private benefit or in an excess benefit transaction.
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Use of Outside Experts
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When conducting the periodic reviews as provided for in Article 6.2, the Organization may, but need not, use outside advisors. If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the Board of its responsibility for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.
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Adopted by the Families as Partners Advisory Council December 8, 2022
Williston Families as Partners, Inc
Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement
 
By signing below, I affirm that:
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I have received and read a copy of the Conflict of Interest and Compensation Policy;
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I agree to comply with the policy;
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I have no actual or potential conflicts as defined by the policy or if I have, I have previously disclosed them as required by the policy or am disclosing them below.
Disclose here, to the best of your knowledge:
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any entity in which you participate (as a director, officer, employee, owner, or member) with which the Organization has a relationship;
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any transaction in which the Organization is a participant as to which you might have a conflicting interest; and
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any other situation which may pose a conflict of interest.
Name:
Position:
Signature:
Date: