Advisory Opinion No. 96-42

Re: Aisha Abdullah-Odiase

QUESTION PRESENTED

An appointed member of the Providence School Board requests an advisory opinion as to whether she may (1) continue her employment as an office adminstrator at the Urban Collaborative, an independent alternative school for at-risk students in grades 7-10 from Providence, East Providence and Pawtucket, arid/or (2) participate in matters relating to the school, given that the Urban Collaborative is governed by a board consisting of superintendents from the three participating cities and has significant involvement with the City of Providence.

RESPONSE

The Code of Ethics does not- require that the petitioner, an appointed member of the Providence School Board,discontinue her employment at the Urban Collaborative, an independent alternative school for at-risk students in grades 7-10 from Providence, East Providence and Pawtucket. The mere fact of her employment does not in and of itself constitute a violation of the Code. The Code does prohibit the petitioner, however, from participating in any votes or other matters as a member of the School Board that directly affect the Urban Collaborative, her employer R.I.Gen Laws § 36-14-7(a). In such instances she should follow the dictates of R. I. Gen. Laws §36-14-6 regarding notice and recusal.

Code Citations:

36-14-7(a)

36-14-6

Related Advisory 0pinions:

93-02

92-17

92-06

Keywords:

private employment

AO 96-42