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Grievance Policy For Parents/Students  

Board Policy 502 
  
Purpose: To provide the procedures parents/students will follow when they have an issue at the School that  constitutes a grievance. 

This policy is in place to respond to parent/student grievances. Grievances may only come from current  students or parents of current students. It is expected that any parent/student with an issue should try to  resolve the issue by using open communication with the teacher. This means that if a parent or student  disagrees with any policy or procedure within the classroom, the first level of grievance is their student’s  Teacher. If the student/parent is not satisfied with the teacher’s response, they should then set a meeting with  the grade-level administrator. At that meeting, the teacher, student, grade-level administrator and parent  must be present and the issue at hand will be fully discussed. If the parent or student wishes to pursue the  matter further, they may then meet with the Executive Director. Similarly, if a parent/student disagrees or has  an issue with a policy or procedure at the School, the parent/student should set a meeting with the Executive  Director. If the parent/student feels that their issue is still a concern after meeting with the Executive Director  and the issue meets the definition of a grievance set forth below, the parent/student may initiate the  grievance procedures as described below. Many issues that a parent/student has with the classroom, teacher  or School will not rise to the level of a grievance and appropriate resolution will be found with the teacher  and/or grade-level administrator. 

Definition of a grievance: a grievance is defined as a formal written complaint by a parent/student stating that  a specific action has violated a School policy, board policy, or law/regulation, including Title VI. Complaints  under Title IX, IDEA, Section 504, the School’s Non-Title IX Bullying policy and those pertaining to student  discipline are not grievances and this policy does not apply to such complaints. Please refer to the School’s  policies and procedures for those matters.  

Time Limits:  A grievance will only be heard if the complaint has been filed within fifteen calendar days of the  meeting with the Executive Director. The fifteen-day deadline may be extended at the discretion of the  Executive Director. 

The grievance process is as follows: 
 
Step 1: If the parties are not satisfied with the decision of the Executive Director, and the grievance  meets the definition set forth above, the parent/student must submit a letter in writing stating the  School policy, board policy or law/regulation that was violated including details of the actions and the  place, date and time of the violation. The parent/student should make all efforts to include any details  about the event that may be helpful in the decision making process. The written letter should be  submitted to the Executive Director of the School and to the Chair of the Board of Directors. If the  Executive Director of the School is implicated in the grievance, the grievance should only be  submitted to the Chair or the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. 

Step 2: Where the grievance is filed directly with the Board as set forth above or after receiving the  appeal letter, the appeal shall be considered by the Board at its next regularly scheduled board  meeting provided such meeting is more than seven days after the filing, or the Chair of the Board of  Directors may call a special meeting of the Board to consider the appeal in accordance with the  School’s bylaws. The Board will consider and discuss the grievance in accordance with Open  Meetings laws. At that meeting the Board of Directors will review the facts and notify the parties in  writing (email accepted) if further action is necessary. If the board decides that it needs additional  time to consider the grievance, gather information and/or conduct an investigation, it may defer its  decision until another regularly scheduled board meeting or schedule a special meeting. At the  Board’s sole discretion, the Board may conduct an investigation and/or gather additional information  regarding the grievance, including interviews or engagement of an investigator, if needed. At the  meeting where the board makes a decision on the grievance, the board will give the individual filing  the grievance or appeal the opportunity to attend the meeting. Once the board reaches a decision,  the Board will communicate that decision to the individual who filed the grievance within five School  days. The Board’s decision concerning the grievance is final. The Board reserves the right to appoint  a Board Panel to address the grievance. In such cases, the Board Panel’s decision is final and there  are no appeal rights to the Board. 

Approved 12/01/2022