The Board of Education recognizes that, as citizens, students have the right to request redress of grievances. Further, the Board believes that the inculcation of respect for lawful procedures is an important part of the educational process. Accordingly, individual and group grievances should be provided for and appropriate appeal procedures implemented. For purposes of this rule, a student complaint or grievance shall be any such that arises out of actions, procedures, and policies of this Board or its employees or the lack of such policy or procedure. The Board or its employees will hear the complaints and grievances of the students of this District provided that such complaints and grievances are made according to procedures established by Board policy.

It shall be the basic intent of the student grievance procedure to encourage students to discuss their grievance(s) informally with the faculty member against whom the grievance is directed prior to utilizing the more formal grievance procedure outlined below. It is expected that the majority of grievances will be settled in this manner. If not, the following procedure shall apply.

The student should first make the grievance known to the staff member most closely involved or, if none is identifiable, with his/her guidance counselor and both shall attempt to resolve the issue informally and directly.

For grievances which must move beyond the first step the student shall prepare a written statement of his/her grievance which shall set forth the specific nature of the grievance and a brief statement of the facts giving rise to it. And, the manner in which and extent to which the student believes s/he has been adversely affected. And, the relief sought by the student and the reasons why the student feels s/he is entitled to the relief sought. And, whether or not, in the opinion of the student, other students are similarly adversely affected, and, if so, what group or groups of students.

The grievance may then be submitted to the building principal, the Superintendent and the Board in turn and with a suitable period of time allowed at each level for the hearing response shall be made within five (5) school days and at each level the student shall be afforded the opportunity to be heard personally by the school authority.

At each step beyond the first, the school authority hearing the grievance may call in the student's parent, provided that the student is not eighteen (18) years of age or older.

The student may conduct the grievance procedure with the help of a parent at any step.

When a grievance proceeds to the Board, the Board shall render its decision promptly, but in no more that five (5) calendar days. The student may appeal an unfavorable decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. The Superintendent shall direct all staff members to respect the right of students to press a grievance through proper channels and according to established procedures without fear of reprisal.