Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is taking new steps to tighten ethical standards throughout the school district.

On Tuesday, Carvalho announced mandatory ethics training for all district employees, beginning with those in the construction and maintenance management departments.

He also called for a review of the district's regulations regarding lobbying for competitive school system contracts.

``It's not that we have unearthed any wrongdoing internally,'' Carvalho said. ``This is a matter of being proactive in ensuring that our practices are as solid and airtight as they can possibly be.''

The new measures come amid ethics scandals that have rocked South Florida governing bodies. Among them:

In September, Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher was arrested on charges she accepted money to direct school construction projects to undercover FBI agents posing as contractors.

Then, last week, Miami City Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones was charged with one count of grand theft for allegedly redirecting county funds to a family business.

Miami City Commissioner Angel Gonzalez resigned from his position on charges he abused his power.

Carvalho said the new measures at the school system were designed to strengthen business practices and increase transparency.

Other components of the initiative include:

• Adding outside experts to district procurement committees;

• Establishing tougher standards to prevent conflicts of interests; and

• Launching a districtwide ethics awareness campaign.

Carvalho also hopes to beef up the consequences for violating existing ethics rules.

``The consequences I'll be seeking are very dramatic,'' he said.

Board members said they approved of the initiative.

``It's well past due,'' board member Agustín Barrera said. ``One of the things we need to do is to educate our employees.''

Board member Renier Diaz de la Portilla said he was supportive of the new measures.

``This is exactly what the focus of ethics reform should be,'' he said.

In other business, the board:

• Passed new rules that will prohibit school bus drivers from sending text messages while driving.

• Named board member Solomon Stinson chairman and board member Perla Tabares Hantman vice chairwoman for the upcoming year.

Miami Herald staff writer Laura Herrera contributed to this report.