CEO 76-49 -- March 16, 1976

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL SELLING TO TEACHERS

To: (Name withheld at the person's request.)

Prepared by: Gene Rhodes

SUMMARY:

An employee in the curriculum division of a district school system is not prohibited from acting privately to sell insurance, annuities, and pension plans to those teachers within the system not under his direct supervision. Because the subject employee exercises no administrative authority over teachers, no conflict would be created were he to solicit from teachers during his off-duty hours.

QUESTION:

Would a prohibited conflict of interest be created were I, an employee of the county school board, to sell insurance, annuities, and pension plans to county school teachers?

Your question is answered in the negative.

We understand that you serve as supervisor of the Career Education Project in the Curriculum Division of the Duval County school system and, as such, have no power over county teachers with the exception of five teachers who work directly under you. You are considering a part-time position with a local investment company which position would involve the sale of insurance, annuities, and pension plans. You have advised us of your intention neither to do this work during your regular-duty hours nor to use your position or authority with the school system to influence school system employees for the purpose of making sales to them.

As you are in the curriculum division of the school system rather than the operational division, and therefore have no administrative authority over county teachers other than those five teachers who are under your direct supervision, the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees contains no provision which would prohibit you from selling insurance, annuities, and pension plans to other county teachers during off-duty hours.