Communication Channels and Complaint Procedure
Good communication helps to resolve many misunderstandings and disagreements. This complaint procedure applies to board members, patrons, students and school staff, unless the staff member is subject to a different grievance procedure pursuant to policy or contract. Individuals who have a complaint should discuss their concerns with appropriate school personnel in an effort to resolve problems. When such efforts do not resolve matters satisfactorily,including matters involving discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, or age, a complainant should follow the procedures set forth below:
1. The first step is for the complainant to speak directly to the person(s) with whom the complainant has a concern. For example, a parent who is unhappy with a classroom teacher should initially discuss the matter with the teacher. However, the complainant should skip the first step if complainant believes speaking directly to the person would subject complainant to discrimination or harassment
2. The second step is for the complainant to speak to the building principal, Title IX/504 coordinator, superintendent of schools, or president of the board of education, as set forth below.
a) Complaints about the operation, decisions, or personnel within a building should be submitted to the principal of the building.
b) Complaints about the operations of the school district or a building principal should be submitted in writing to the superintendent of schools.
c) Complaints about the superintendent of schools should be submitted in writing to the president of the board of education.
d) Complaints involving discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, marital status, disability, or age may also be submitted, at any time during the complaint procedure to the School District’s Title IX/504 coordinator. Complaints involving discrimination or harassment may also be submitted at any time to the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education: by email at click to show address; by telephone at (816) 268-0550; or by fax at (816) 268- 0599.
3. When a complainant submits a complaint to an administrator or to the Title IX/504 coordinator, the administrator or Title IX/504 coordinator shall promptly and thoroughly investigate the complaint, and shall:
a) Determine whether the complainant has discussed the matter with the staff member involved.
1) If the complainant has not, the administrator or Title IX/504 coordinator will urge the complainant to discuss the matter directly with that staff member, if appropriate.
2) If the complainant refuses to discuss the matter with the staff member, the administrator or Title IX/504 coordinator shall, in his or her sole discretion, determine whether the complaint should be pursued further.
b) Strongly encourage the complainant to reduce his or her concerns to writing.
c) Interview the complainant to determine:
1) All relevant details of the complaint;
2) All witnesses and documents which the complainant believes support the complaint;
3) The action or solution which the complainant seeks.
d) Respond to the complainant. If the complaint involved discrimination or harassment, the response shall be in File: 301.04 Page 3 of 4 writing and shall be submitted within 180 days after the administrator or Title IX/504 coordinator received the complaint.
4. A complainant who is not satisfied with the administrator’s or the Title IX/504 coordinator’s decision regarding a complaint may appeal the decision to the superintendent.
a) This appeal must be in writing.
b) This appeal must be received by the superintendent no later than ten (10) business days from the date the administrator or Title IX/504 coordinator communicated his/her decision to the complainant.
c) The superintendent will investigate as he or she deems appropriate. However, all matters involving discrimination or harassment shall be promptly and thoroughly investigated.
d) Upon completion of this investigation, the superintendent will inform the complainant in writing of his or her decision. If the complaint involves discrimination or harassment, the superintendent shall submit the decision within 180 days after the superintendent received complainant’s written appeal.
5. A complainant who is not satisfied with the superintendent’s decision regarding a complaint may appeal the decision to the board.
a) This appeal must be in writing.
b) This appeal must be received by the board president no later than ten (10) business days from the date the superintendent communicated his/her decision to the complainant.
c) This policy allows, but does not require the board to receive statements from interested parties and witnesses relevant to the complaint appeal. However, all matters involving discrimination or harassment shall be promptly and thoroughly investigated. File: 301.04 Page 4 of 4
d) The board will notify the complainant in writing of its decision. If the complaint involved discrimination or harassment, the board shall submit its decision within 180 days after it received complainant’s written appeal.
e) There is no appeal from a decision of the board.
6. When a formal complaint about the superintendent of schools has been filed with the president of the board, the president shall promptly and thoroughly investigate the complaint, and shall:
a) Determine whether the complainant has discussed the matter with the superintendent.
1) If the complainant has not, the board president will urge the complainant to discuss the matter directly with the superintendent, if appropriate.
2) If the complainant refuses to discuss the matter with the superintendent, the board president shall, in his or her sole discretion, determine whether the complaint should be pursued further.
b) Strongly encourage the complainant to reduce his or her concerns to writing.
c) Determine, in his or her sole discretion, whether to place the matter on the board agenda for consideration at a regular or special meeting.
d) Respond to the complainant. If the complaint involved discrimination or harassment, the response shall be in writing and shall be submitted within 180 days after the president received the complaint.
The school district prohibits retaliation against any person for filing a complaint or for participating in the complaint procedure in good faith.
