4122B - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ACCESS

Van Buren Intermediate School District

Administrative Guidelines

4122B - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ACCESS
Section I

Any person that believes that s/he has been discriminated against or denied equal opportunity or access to programs or services may file a complaint, which shall be referred to as a grievance, with the District's Civil Rights Coordinator

Director of Finance and Operations

Van Buren Intermediate School District

490 South Paw Paw Street

Lawrence, Michigan 49064

269-674-8091 ext. 201

The individual may also, at any time, contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, 600 Superior Avenue, Room 750, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2611.

Section II

The person who believes s/he has a valid basis for grievance shall discuss the grievance informally and on a verbal basis with the local Civil Rights Coordinator, who shall in turn investigate the complaint and reply with an answer to the complainant. S/He may initiate formal procedures according to the following steps:

	Step 1

		A written statement of the grievance signed by the complainant shall be submitted to the District's Civil Rights Coordinator within five (5) business days of receipt of answers to the informal complaint. The Coordinator shall further investigate the matters of grievance and reply in writing to the complainant within five (5) business days.

	Step 2

		If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision of the District's Civil Rights Coordinator, s/he may submit a signed statement of appeal to the Superintendent of Schools within five (5) business days after receipt of the Coordinator's response. The Superintendent shall meet with all parties involved, formulate a conclusion, and respond in writing to the complainant within ten (10) business days.

	Step 3

		If the complainant remains unsatisfied, s/he may appeal through a signed written statement to the Board of Education within five (5) business days of his/her receipt of the Superintendent's response in step two. In an attempt to resolve the grievance, the Board of Education shall meet with the concerned parties and their representative within twenty (20) business days of the receipt of such an appeal. A copy of the Board's disposition of the appeal shall be sent to each concerned party within ten (10) business days of this meeting.

	Step 4

		If at this point the grievance has not been satisfactorily settled, further appeal may be made to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, 600 Superior Avenue, Room 750, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2611.

Inquiries concerning the nondiscriminatory policy may be directed to: Director, Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20201.

The local Coordinator will provide a copy of the District's grievance procedure to any person who files a complaint and will investigate all complaints in accordance with this procedure.

A copy of each of the Acts and the regulations on which this notice is based, may be found in the Civil Rights Coordinator's office.

Revised 10/00
Revised 4/01
Revised 12/03