Atlanta school board members who violate board policy or the board's "norms and values" could face repercussions from their fellow members -- starting with a private conversation and ending with a public sanction.

The Atlanta school board approved a process Monday for dealing with fellow board members who violate the "board's norms and values" or policies.

The rules spell out the steps the board will take if one of its members "act in violation of board policy or the board's norms and values."

The new process starts with the board chairman having a private conversation with the “offending member.” If that doesn’t resolve the matter, then the full board will meet in closed session to discuss it.

Still no resolution? Next up: Taking a vote in public to issue a written reprimand and “citing specific violations” -- which would require at least six votes from the nine-member board.

The final step, if needed, is to vote on publicly censuring the board member, which also would require six votes to pass.

The process does not replace the independent ethics commission, which hears complaints and investigates potential ethical violations.

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