| Streetsboro City School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
9130 - PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES
Any person or group having a legitimate interest in the schools of this District shall have the right to present a request, suggestion, complaint, or grievance concerning District personnel, the program, or the operations of the District. At the same time, the Board of Education has a duty to protect its staff from unnecessary harassment. It is the intent of this policy to provide the means for judging each public complaint and grievance in a fair and impartial manner and to seek a remedy where appropriate.
It is the desire of the Board to rectify any misunderstandings between the public and the School District by direct discussions of an informal type among the interested parties. It is only when such informal meetings fail to resolve the differences, shall more formal procedures be employed.
Any requests, suggestions, complaints, or grievances reaching the Board, Board members, and the administration shall be referred to the Superintendent for consideration according to the following procedure.
Matters Regarding a Professional Staff Member
If it is a matter specifically directed toward a teaching staff member, the matter shall be handled in accordance with the terms of the negotiated agreement.
Matters Regarding an Administrative Staff Member
In the case of a complaint directed toward an administrative staff member, the complaint shall be discussed, initially, with the person toward whom it is directed and if a satisfactory resolution is not achieved at this level, the matter shall be brought, as required, to higher levels terminating with the Board.
Matters Regarding a Program or Operation
If the request, suggestion, complaint, or grievance relates to a matter of District school policy, procedure, program, or operation, it should be addressed, initially, to the principal or the head of the classified department who is most directly concerned, and then brought, in turn, to higher levels of authority in the manner prescribed in "Matters Regarding Professional Staff Member".
Matters Regarding a Professional Staff Member
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A. |
First Level |
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If it is a matter specifically directed toward a teaching staff member, the matter must be addressed, initially, to the concerned staff member who shall discuss it promptly with the complaint and make every effort to provide a reasoned explanation or take appropriate action within his/her authority and District administrative guidelines. |
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As appropriate, the staff member shall report the matter and what ever action may have been taken to the principal. |
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B. |
Second Level |
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If the matter cannot be satisfactorily resolved at the first level, it shall be discussed by the complainant with the principal. |
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C. |
Third Level |
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If a satisfactory solution is not achieved by discussion with the principal, a written request for a conference shall be submitted to the Superintendent by the complaint with a copy to the Board. This request should include: |
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the specific nature of the complaint and a brief statement of the facts giving rise to it; |
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2. |
the respect in which it is alleged that the complainant (or child of the complainant) has been affected adversely; |
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3. |
the action which the complainant wishes taken and the reasons why it is felt that such action be taken. |
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Should the matter be resolved in conference with the Superintendent, the Board shall be advised of the resolution. |
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C. |
Third Level |
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Should the matter not be resolved, or if it is one beyond the Superintendent's authority and requires a Board decision or action, the complainant shall request, in writing, a meeting by the Board. |
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The Board, after reviewing all material relating to the case, shall grant a meeting before the Board. |
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The complainant shall be advised, in writing, of the Board's decision, no more than ten (10) days following the meeting. |
Matters Regarding Instructional Materials
The Superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines addressing students’ and parents’ rights to be adequately informed each year regarding their ability to inspect instructional materials and the procedure for completing such an inspection. See AG 9130A and Form 9130 F3.
If the request, suggestion, complaint or grievance relates to instructional materials such as textbooks, library books, reference works and other instructional aids used in the District, the following procedures shall be followed:
The criticism is to be addressed to the Superintendent in writing, and shall include:
| A. | author; | |
| B. | title; | |
| C. | publisher; | |
| D. | the complainant's familiarity with the material objected to; | |
| E. | sections objected to, by page and item; | |
| F. | reasons for objection; | |
| G. | in what school and class the material was used; | |
| H. | how the material was used. |
Upon receipt of the information, the Superintendent shall, after advising the Board of the complaint, appoint a review committee consisting of:
| A. | building administrator; | |
| B. | a teacher in the subject area; | |
| C. | a library staff member; | |
| D. | a Board member; | |
| E. | a lay person knowledgeable in the area. |
The Superintendent shall be an ex officio member of the committee.
The committee, in evaluating the questioned material, shall be guided by the following criteria:
| A. | the appropriateness of the material for the age and maturity level of the students with whom it is being used | |
| B. | the accuracy of the material | |
| C. | the objectivity of the material | |
| D. | the use being made of the material |
The material in question may not be withdrawn from use pending the committee's decision.
The committee's decision shall be reported to the Superintendent in writing within ten (10) days following the formation of the committee. The Superintendent will advise the complainant, in writing of the committee's decision and advise the Board of the action taken or recommended.
The complainant may appeal this decision to the Board through a written request to the Superintendent, who shall forward the request and all written material relating to the matter to the Board.
The Board shall review the case in public session and advise the complainant, in writing, of its decision within forty-five (45) days.
No challenged material may be removed from the curriculum or from a collection of resource materials except by action of the Board, and no challenged material may be removed solely because it presents ideas that may be unpopular or offensive to some. Any Board action to remove material will be accompanied by the Board's statement of its reasons for the removal.
20 U.S.C. 1232h
Revised 1/9/03