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204.11 Complaint Procedures

 

Code No. 204.11

COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

Purpose. The Board recognizes that situations may arise in the operation of the District which are of concern to parents or to the public.  The Board strongly believes that all concerns should be resolved at the lowest possible level of decision-making by the individuals involved.  Concerns are best dealt with in open communication by the individuals involved.  Therefore, the purpose of these complaint procedures is to resolve, at the lowest possible level, and as expeditiously as possible, complaints of any person regarding any District matter. Anonymous complaints will not be processed under this procedure.

Exclusion.  If there is another, more specific complaint procedure relating to a matter, the complaint shall be brought under such procedure rather than pursuant to this Policy.  (For example, see Employee Complaint procedures, Student Records Appeal procedures, and Instructional Materials Reconsideration procedures.)

Procedures.

1.                Any person with a complaint or concern regarding a District matter is encouraged to first talk with the school official or employee involved as soon as possible.  However, if the matter involves a classified employee (such as a teacher associate, secretary, food service, bus driver or custodial employee), the person should start the process with the classified employee's immediate supervisor.

2.                If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved, the complainant shall file a written complaint with the school official or employee involved.  The school official or employee shall indicate the disposition of the complaint in writing.  However, if the matter involves a classified employee, the written complaint should be filed with the employee's immediate supervisor.

3.                If the complainant feels that the matter is not satisfactorily resolved, the complainant shall file the complaint and the prior written disposition with the employee's immediate supervisor.  If the matter involves a claim of discrimination or harassment, the complaint may be filed at this level or may be filed with the District's Compliance Officer.  The supervisor or his/her designee (or the Compliance Officer) shall meet with the complainant and shall indicate the disposition in writing.

4.                If the complainant feels that the matter is not satisfactorily resolved, the complainant shall file the complaint and any prior dispositions with the Superintendent of Schools.  The Superintendent or his/her designee shall meet with the complainant and shall indicate the disposition in writing.

5.                If the complainant still feels that the matter is not satisfactorily resolved, the complainant may file the written complaint and any written dispositions with the Board Secretary.  The Superintendent shall place the item on the Board's agenda.  The complainant may appear at the Board meeting and discuss the matter with the Board.  The administrative staff may also discuss the matter with the Board. The Board may refuse in its sole discretion to take action on the complaint, or the Board shall decide the matter as soon as practicable, and the Board Secretary shall communicate the Board's decision to the complainant.  If the Board declines to decide the matter, the disposition of the Superintendent or his/her designee shall be final.

Complaints Regarding Employees.  Complaints arising regarding the performance or behavior of an employee shall be referred to the employee's immediate supervisor.  The Board shall not actively investigate such complaints regarding employees.  Such complaints shall be handled as confidentially as reasonably practical.  The immediate supervisor may require that the complaint be in writing.  Appeals shall be taken to the Superintendent or his/her designee as set forth above.

If the matter is not resolved, the complainant may appeal to the Board setting forth in writing the specifics of the complaint.  However, in appeals to the Board regarding complaints about employees, the Board shall review only the actions of the Superintendent or his/her designee to assure that the Superintendent provided a fair procedure for the resolution of the complaint.  In addition, prior to the meeting at which a complaint is heard about any employee, the Board Secretary or Superintendent shall ascertain whether the matter may be legally discussed in closed session and shall ascertain from the employee whether the employee wishes to have the matter discussed by the Board in closed session.  The employee may respond to the complaint at the meeting at which the complaint is heard by the Board, or if the employee needs additional time to adequately respond, the Board may schedule a second meeting for the employee to respond.

Interference.  Investigations and processing of complaints shall be conducted so as to result in no interference with or interruption of school activities.

 

 

 

 

Date of Review:  December 11, 2017

 

Date of Revision:

February 9, 2004                      

543076

 

Legal References:

 

279.8, Code of Iowa                                                   

 

 

DECORAH COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Page 2 of 2

 

 

 

Code No. 204.11
Exhibit A
Page 1 of 3

COMPLAINT FORM

 

DECORAH COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

Date Filed:                                                                                                                              

Name of Complainant:                                                                                                 

Telephone Number:                                                                                                                 

Address:                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                           

Statement of Complaint (include specific statement of incident(s), dates, persons involved, witnesses, and any other pertinent facts):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remedy Sought:

 

 

 

Date you held informal meeting with employee involved:                                  

 

                                                                                                                                                           
                                                Signature of Complainant                                 Date

 

Code No. 204.11
Exhibit A
Page 2 of 3

 

 

Date Received by District employee:                                                                

Response by employee:

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                Signature of Employee                                                 Date

 

I wish to have this reconsidered by the employee's supervisor.

 

                                                                                                                                                           

Signature of Complainant                                                                                 Date

                                                                       

Date Received by Supervisor

                                                                       

Date of Conference with Supervisor

Response by Supervisor:

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                Signature of Supervisor                                                Date

 

I wish to have this reconsidered by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

                                                                                                                                                           

Signature of Complainant                                                         Date

 

Code No. 204.11
Exhibit A
Page 3 of 3

 

                                                                       

Date Filed with Superintendent

 

                                                                                               

Date of Conference with Superintendent

Response by Superintendent:

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                Signature of Superintendent                                          Date

 

 

I wish to have this matter placed on the Board agenda:

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                Signature of Complainant                                             Date

 

 

Dated Received by Board Secretary:                                                                             

 

 

Placed on Board Agenda for:                                                                                        

                                                            Date                                         Time