500.3 Student Complaint Procedures

STUDENT COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

It is the goal of the Board to resolve complaints of students and their parents at the lowest administrative level.  An attempt shall be made to resolve any complaint in informal, verbal discussion between the student and/or the parent and the person against whom the complaint is filed and/or the building administrator or supervisor.  Please note that informal processing and procedures are not to be used where sexual harassment is alleged.

If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, the student or parent may file the complaint in writing, and, at an agreeable time, discuss the matter with the building administrator or supervisor.  Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the event or events giving rise to the complaint or from the date the complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence.  The written complaint shall state the nature of the complaint and shall state the remedy requested.  The building administrator or supervisor shall make a decision on the complaint and communicate it in writing to the student or parent and the superintendent within fifteen (15) school days or as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of the complaint.

In the event a complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved by the building administrator or supervisor, the student or parent may file a copy of the complaint with the superintendent and request a meeting.  The superintendent shall file a written response with the student or parent and the building administrator or supervisor within fifteen (15) school days or as soon as reasonably practicable after meeting.

If the superintendent’s decision on the complaint did not satisfactorily resolve the complaint for the student or parent, the student or parent may file a written complaint with the Board Secretary within five days of receiving the superintendent’s decision. Such a written request to the Board should identify specific written board policies that are impacted, if any, and must include a statement of how the author would like the complaint resolved. The written complaint will be provided to the Board in advance of an upcoming Board meeting. The superintendent may also provide a statement to Board in advance of the Board meeting.

After the Board has received a copy of the complaint and a statement from the superintendent, if any, the Board may determine to take action on the complaint or may decline to take action on the complaint. If the Board elects to take action on the complaint, the Board has significant flexibility in how it approaches the complaint; the Board may take action based solely on the information available to it, the Board may request additional information, and the Board may take any other lawful action it deems appropriate.  If the Board declines to take action on the complaint, the disposition of the superintendent shall be final.

Date of Last Review:  October 14, 2019

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DECORAH COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS