The Board of Directors recognizes that good morale is maintained by the sincere efforts of all persons to work toward constructive solutions to problems in an atmosphere of courtesy and cooperation. Realizing that in the course of solving problems, disputes or disagreement concerning an alleged violation, interpretation, or inappropriate application of school policies, rules, and regulations may occur, a formal grievance process shall be adopted to which any school employee shall have access. The grievance process shall provide for the orderly resolution of differences. Proceedings will be kept as informal and confidential as may be appropriate to any level of the process.
The Board of Directors guarantees that there shall be no reprisals against any employee utilizing the grievance procedures by the Board of Directors nor will the Board of Directors condone any reprisal by any employee of the school.
The Board of Directors hereby subscribes to the following definitions and grievance process.
"Grievance" means a claim by an employee alleging a violation, misinterpretation or misapplication of a specific policy of the Board of Directors or a specific administrative practice or procedure.
"Grievant" means the employee who initiates a Grievance alleging a loss as a result of a specific violation of a policy or administrative practice or procedure.
"Complaint" means a written record stipulating the events giving rise to the Grievance, the specific relief desired, and the basis thereof. The Complaint shall be dated and signed by the Grievant.
"Party of Interest" means any person who might be required to take action or against whom action might be taken in order to resolve the Grievance.
"Immediate Supervisor" means an employee who has the direct administrative or supervisory responsibility for the Grievant.
"Days" shall mean working school days. Weekend or vacation days are thus excluded. Exception: When a Grievance is submitted on or after November 1, "days" shall mean all calendar days, due to imminence of a lengthy school vacation period.
Within five (5) days of receipt of the complaint, the Supervisor shall schedule a formal meeting with the Grievant and attempt to resolve the matter.
Within five (5) days of the formal meeting, the Supervisor shall prepare a written statement of the action taken and the reasons for the action taken.
Within ten (10) days of the receipt of the written appeal on the Grievance Appeal Form, the Director General shall:
a. Make a written decision based upon the written documentation (and the meeting) in Level 1, Step 2, or;
b. Give five (5) days’ notice of a formal hearing and render a written decision within three (3) days following such a hearing, or;
c. Make no decision.
Within five (5) days of the receipt of the written decision by the Director General or within ten (10) days of the meeting with the Director General, whichever is later, the Grievant may appeal in writing to the Board of Directors stating the grounds upon which the Complaint is based and the reasons why the Grievant considers the action of the Director General unacceptable.
Appeals to the Board of Directors shall be heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting in Executive Session. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given five (5) days prior to the meeting.
Any information, material or testimony of witnesses, not previously made known to each party at the Level II meeting of the Grievance procedure, may not be used at Level III.
The decision of the Board of Directors is final and shall be made in writing to the Grievant.