4026 - Nepotism

Adoption Date: 12/01/2014

Revision History: Reviewed 12/14/2020

The School Board believes that the appropriate placement of qualified and competent staff is essential to the success of the Omaha Public Schools.

An applicant for any position in the Omaha Public Schools system, or any employee seeking a promotion or transfer, shall be considered solely on the basis of respective qualifications for such position regardless of whether the applicant or employee is or is not related by blood, marriage, or by law to any member of the Board or to any employee of the District, except as otherwise provided herein.

Definition:

A. Related/Relative:

These relationships include parents, children, siblings, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, spouse, grandparents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or person who resides in the same household.

B. Directly Supervise:

This term relates to situations in which one person in the school system can influence the employment conditions or career of the other. This includes decisions involving hiring, compensation, performance evaluation, promotional opportunities and work assignments or be assigned to positions where one reports to, directs the work of, or supervises the other on a full schedule basis.

C. Recommendation for Appointment, Employment, Promotion, Transfer, Change of Assignment, Advancement, Dismissal, or Evaluation:

This term shall apply to those situations in which an individual has responsibility for making advisory recommendations; such terms shall not apply to employee nominations or dismissal recommendations of the Superintendent to the Board.

D. Evaluation:

This shall apply to those situations in which an individual is assigned responsibility for making the annual evaluation for an employee or is requested to participate in the formulation of such evaluation.

No employee shall participate in or exert any influence on any personnel action including recommendations for appointment, employment, promotion, transfer, change of assignment, advancement, dismissal, or evaluation of an applicant or employee to whom s/he is related.

No employee may directly supervise or be directly supervised by an employee to whom s/he is related.

Administrative personnel shall not be assigned to a department or grade level where a relative is a team leader or department chairperson.

No employee shall be recommended for a promotion or transfer to a position that would result in a violation of this policy.

This policy shall not, except as provided herein, be interpreted to prohibit the employment of relatives of Board members or relatives of any employee of the school system.

The prohibitions herein regarding employment shall not apply to persons occupying positions in the school system that, on the effective date of this policy, are in violation of such prohibitions. However, the provisions of the policy shall be applicable to any subsequent promotions, transfers, or other personnel actions which would violate the provisions of this policy.