Complaints and Grievances
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All complaints and grievances are governed by law and Board policy. The two Board policies that apply to parent/student complaints or grievances are FNG (Legal) and FNG (Local). You are instructed to read these policies carefully.
For your general information, there is no requirement that the Board of Trustees negotiate or even respond to complaints. The Board encourages students and parents to discuss their concerns and complaints through informal conferences with the appropriate teacher, principal, or other campus administrator. Policies FNG (Legal) and FNG (Local) make reference to formal written complaint forms. The complaint and appeal forms appear below under the designation "FORMS". The complaint or grievance must be drafted in such a manner so as to give fair notice of the nature of the complaint. Complaints arising out of an event or a series of related events shall be addressed in one complaint. A student or parent shall not bring separate or serial complaints arising from any event or series of events that have been or could have been addressed in a previous complaint. A student or parent may not add additional items to the original complaint because of their dissatisfaction with the Level I or Level II administrator response. Only the original written complaint form and the resolution requested thereon shall be addressed at each level of the proceeding. IF A WRITTEN COMPLAINT OR APPEAL NOTICE IS NOT TIMELY FILED, THE COMPLAINT MAY BE DISMISSED, ON WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE STUDENT OR PARENT, AT ANY POINT DURING THE COMPLAINT PROCESS. Each party shall pay its own costs incurred in the course of the complaint.
An examination or course grade issued by a classroom teacher is final and may not be changed unless the grade is arbitrary, erroneous, or not consistent with the District's grading policy applicable to the grade, as determined by the Board.The formal complaint process involves three levels beginning with level one. The levels and the procedures associated therewith are set forth in Board Policy FNG (Local). COMPLAINTS OR GRIEVANCES MUST BE FILED WITH THE LOWEST LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REMEDY THE ALLEGED PROBLEM WITHIN 15 DAYS OF THE DATE THE STUDENT OR PARENT FIRST KNEW, OR WITH REASONABLE DILIGENCE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, OF THE DECISION OR ACTION GIVING RISE TO THE COMPLAINT OR GRIEVANCE.
For information on how to proceed with specific complaints regarding the following, please click on the links associated with the specific policies referenced below:- Alleged discrimination, see policy FB.
- Removal to a disciplinary alternative education program, see policy FOC.
- Expulsion, see policy FOD and the Student Code of Conduct.
- Identification, evaluation, or educational placement of a student with a disability within the scope of Section 504, see policy FB.
- Identification, evaluation, educational placement, or discipline of a student with a disability within the scope of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, see policy EHBA, FOF, and the parents' rights handbook provided to parents of all students referred to special education.
- Instructional materials, see policy EFA.
- On-campus distribution of nonschool materials, see policy FNAA.
- A commissioned peace officer who is an employee of the District, see policy CKE.
Complaints and Grievances by the General Public
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All complaints and grievances are governed by law and Board policy. The two Board policies that apply to complaints and grievances brought by general public are GF (Legal) and GF (Local). You are instructed to read these policies carefully.
For your general information, there is no requirement that the Board of Trustees negotiate or even respond to complaints. The Board encourages the public to discuss concerns and complaints through informal conferences with the appropriate administrator. Policies GF (Legal) and GF (Local) make reference to formal written complaint forms. The complaint and appeal forms appear below under the designation "FORMS". The complaint or grievance must be drafted in such a manner so as to give fair notice of the nature of the complaint. Complaints arising out of a series of related events shall be addressed in one complaint. An individual shall not bring separate or serial complaints arising from any event or series of events that have been or could have been addressed in a previous complaint. A member of the general public may not add additional items to the original complaint because of their dissatisfaction with the Level I or Level II administrator response. Only the original written complaint form and the resolution requested thereon shall be addressed at each level of the proceeding. IF A WRITTEN COMPLAINT OR APPEAL NOTICE IS NOT TIMELY FILED, THE COMPLAINT MAY BE DISMISSED, ON WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE IDIVIDUAL, AT ANY POINT DURING THE COMPLAINT PROCESS. Each party shall pay its own costs incurred in the course of the complaint.
The formal complaint process involves three levels beginning with level one. The levels and the procedures associated therewith are set forth in Board Policy GF (Local). COMPLAINTS OR GRIEVANCES MUST BE FILED WITH THE LOWEST LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REMEDY THE ALLEGED PROBLEM WITHIN 15 DAYS OF THE DATE THE INDIVIDUAL FIRST KNEW, OR WITH REASONABLE DILIGENCE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, OF THE DECISION OR ACTION GIVING RISE TO THE COMPLAINT OR GRIEVANCE.