Mississippi § 37-11-27 - Interest in contracts involving public schools.

§ 37-11-27. Interest in contracts involving public schools.

It shall be unlawful for any member of the board of trustees of any school district, any member of the county board of education, the county superintendent of education or any superintendent, principal, teacher, or employee of a county board of education or any school district to have or own any direct or indirect interest individually or as agent or employee of any person, partnership, firm, or corporation in any contract made or let by the county board of education, the county superintendent of education or the board of trustees of the school district for the construction, repair, or improvement of any school facility, the furnishing of any supplies, materials, or other articles, the doing of any public work or the transportation of children or upon any subcontract arising therefrom or connected therewith in any manner. The board of trustees of any school district shall be authorized to contract with a teacher or school district employee to perform extra work without being in violation of the provisions of this section. The board of trustees shall make a case by case determination of the possible conflicts of interest arising from any extra work contracts and such decision by the board shall be final. Any contract entered into in violation of the provisions of this section shall be void and of no effect. Any person who shall authorize or enter into any contract in violation of the provisions hereof, or who shall knowingly or wilfully pay out or receive any money upon any such contract shall be civilly liable for the amount so paid or received, and, in the case of an official who has furnished a bond, the surety upon such bond shall likewise be liable for such amount. In addition thereto, any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.