9130 Public Requests, Suggestions, or Complaints
9130 - COMPLAINT REVIEW COMMITTEE PROCEDURES
The following procedures should be used by committees formed to review complaints concerning instructional materials.
The following procedures should be used by committees formed to review complaints concerning instructional materials.
A. Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed for conducting meetings.
A chairperson and a secretary will be selected by the District Administrator prior to the initial meeting.
B. First Meeting:
1. Copies of the petitioner's complaint are distributed.
2. Copies of the material being challenged are distributed.
3. Relevant materials concerning the issue are made available.
4. The petitioner may make an oral presentation of not more than fifteen (15) minutes.
5. District staff may make an oral presentation.
6. The chairperson directs each committee member to review the complaint carefully and be prepared to vote on the issue at the second meeting.
5. District staff may make an oral presentation.
6. The chairperson directs each committee member to review the complaint carefully and be prepared to vote on the issue at the second meeting.
C. Second Meeting:
1. Committee discussion, led by the chairperson.
2. Petitioner may be present to observe, but may not participate in the deliberations.
3. Vote of a simple majority of those present entitled to vote will determine the resolution of the complaint.
4. Only members who have read or viewed the material in its entirety may vote.
2. Petitioner may be present to observe, but may not participate in the deliberations.
3. Vote of a simple majority of those present entitled to vote will determine the resolution of the complaint.
4. Only members who have read or viewed the material in its entirety may vote.
5. Balloting will be written and confidential.
The vote will then be forwarded to the District Administrator for his/her review and decision.
Minutes of each meeting will be kept by the secretary and distributed to the petitioner, the committee, and the District Administrator.
The petitioner may appeal the decision of the committee to the Board, who will have access to all materials made available to the committee as well as to the minutes of each meeting.
© Neola 2010
Minutes of each meeting will be kept by the secretary and distributed to the petitioner, the committee, and the District Administrator.
The petitioner may appeal the decision of the committee to the Board, who will have access to all materials made available to the committee as well as to the minutes of each meeting.
© Neola 2010
9130 - PUBLIC REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS, OR COMPLAINTS
Any individual(s), having a legitimate interest in the staff, programs and operations of this District shall have the right to present a request, suggestion, or complaint to the District and the Board of Education. At the same time, the Board has a right to protect the staff from inappropriate harassment. It is the intent of this policy to provide guidelines for considering and addressing public requests, suggestions, or complaints in an efficient, reasonable, and equitable manner. Requests, suggestions, or complaints made by District staff members are covered by Policy 3122 and Policy 4122.
It is the desire of the Board to address any such matters through direct, informal discussions and other means. It is only when attempts at informal resolution fail that more formal procedures shall be used.
Generally, requests, suggestions, or complaints reaching the Board or Board members shall be referred to the District Administrator for consideration. Any individual presenting such a matter shall be provided with a copy of this policy.
Guidelines for Matters Regarding a Staff Member
Any individual(s), having a legitimate interest in the staff, programs and operations of this District shall have the right to present a request, suggestion, or complaint to the District and the Board of Education. At the same time, the Board has a right to protect the staff from inappropriate harassment. It is the intent of this policy to provide guidelines for considering and addressing public requests, suggestions, or complaints in an efficient, reasonable, and equitable manner. Requests, suggestions, or complaints made by District staff members are covered by Policy 3122 and Policy 4122.
It is the desire of the Board to address any such matters through direct, informal discussions and other means. It is only when attempts at informal resolution fail that more formal procedures shall be used.
Generally, requests, suggestions, or complaints reaching the Board or Board members shall be referred to the District Administrator for consideration. Any individual presenting such a matter shall be provided with a copy of this policy.
Guidelines for Matters Regarding a Staff Member
A. First Level
Generally, if the matter concerns a professional staff member the individual(s) should discuss the matter with the staff member. The staff member shall take appropriate action within his/her authority and District administrative guidelines to deal with the matter.
Discussion with the staff member may not be appropriate in some situations including, for example, where the matter involves suspected child abuse, substance abuse, or any other serious allegation that may require investigation or inquiry by school officials prior to approaching the staff member.
As appropriate, the staff member shall report the matter and whatever action may have been taken to the District Administrator.
B. Second Level
If the matter has not been satisfactorily addressed at the First level, and the matter does not involve the District Administrator, the individual(s) may request a conference with the District Administrator.
The District Administrator may respond in writing to the individual(s) and may advise the Board of any resolution of the matter.
C. Third Level
If the matter has not been satisfactorily addressed at the Second Level, or at the First Level in the case of a matter involving the District Administrator, the individual(s) may submit a written request to the Board to address the matter. Any such request must be submitted within ten (10) days of receiving the District Administrator’s written response.
The Board, after reviewing all material relating to the matter shall provide the individual(s) with a written response; or grant a hearing, which may be held in closed session at the discretion of the Board when consistent with Wisconsin's Open Meetings law.
The individual(s) shall be advised, in writing, of the Board's decision no more than ten (10) business days following the next regular meeting. The Board's decision will be final on the matter, and it will not provide a hearing to other complainants on the same issue.
If the individual(s) contacts an individual Board member to discuss the matter, the Board member shall inform the individual that s/he has no authority to act in his/her individual capacity and may refer the individual(s) to this guideline or the District Administrator for further assistance.
Guidelines for Matters Regarding a Support Staff Member
In the case of a support staff member, the matter is to be directed, initially, to the person's supervisor, and then in subsequently higher levels as prescribed in "Guidelines for Matters Regarding a Staff Member".
Guidelines for Matters Regarding the Educational Program
If the matter relates to a District program, it should be addressed, initially, to the District Administrator and then in subsequently higher levels as prescribed in "Matters Regarding a Staff Member".
Guidelines for Matters Regarding Instructional Materials
The District Administrator shall prepare administrative guidelines to ensure that students and parents are adequately informed each year regarding their right to inspect instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum and the procedure for completing such an inspection. See Policy 2414, AG 9130A and Form 9130 F3.
If the request, suggestion, or complaint relates to instructional materials such as textbooks, library books, reference works, and other instructional aids used in the District, the following procedure shall be followed:
Generally, if the matter concerns a professional staff member the individual(s) should discuss the matter with the staff member. The staff member shall take appropriate action within his/her authority and District administrative guidelines to deal with the matter.
Discussion with the staff member may not be appropriate in some situations including, for example, where the matter involves suspected child abuse, substance abuse, or any other serious allegation that may require investigation or inquiry by school officials prior to approaching the staff member.
As appropriate, the staff member shall report the matter and whatever action may have been taken to the District Administrator.
B. Second Level
If the matter has not been satisfactorily addressed at the First level, and the matter does not involve the District Administrator, the individual(s) may request a conference with the District Administrator.
The District Administrator may respond in writing to the individual(s) and may advise the Board of any resolution of the matter.
C. Third Level
If the matter has not been satisfactorily addressed at the Second Level, or at the First Level in the case of a matter involving the District Administrator, the individual(s) may submit a written request to the Board to address the matter. Any such request must be submitted within ten (10) days of receiving the District Administrator’s written response.
The Board, after reviewing all material relating to the matter shall provide the individual(s) with a written response; or grant a hearing, which may be held in closed session at the discretion of the Board when consistent with Wisconsin's Open Meetings law.
The individual(s) shall be advised, in writing, of the Board's decision no more than ten (10) business days following the next regular meeting. The Board's decision will be final on the matter, and it will not provide a hearing to other complainants on the same issue.
If the individual(s) contacts an individual Board member to discuss the matter, the Board member shall inform the individual that s/he has no authority to act in his/her individual capacity and may refer the individual(s) to this guideline or the District Administrator for further assistance.
Guidelines for Matters Regarding a Support Staff Member
In the case of a support staff member, the matter is to be directed, initially, to the person's supervisor, and then in subsequently higher levels as prescribed in "Guidelines for Matters Regarding a Staff Member".
Guidelines for Matters Regarding the Educational Program
If the matter relates to a District program, it should be addressed, initially, to the District Administrator and then in subsequently higher levels as prescribed in "Matters Regarding a Staff Member".
Guidelines for Matters Regarding Instructional Materials
The District Administrator shall prepare administrative guidelines to ensure that students and parents are adequately informed each year regarding their right to inspect instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum and the procedure for completing such an inspection. See Policy 2414, AG 9130A and Form 9130 F3.
If the request, suggestion, or complaint relates to instructional materials such as textbooks, library books, reference works, and other instructional aids used in the District, the following procedure shall be followed:
A. The criticism is to be addressed to the Librarian (textbooks to the appropriate staff member), in writing, and shall include:
1. author;
2. title;
3. publisher;
4. sections objected to by page and item;
5. reasons for objection.
B. Upon receipt of the information, the Librarian/Staff Member shall, after advising the District Administrator of the complaint, and upon the District Administrator's approval, appoint a review committee consisting of:
1. one (1) or more professional staff members;
2. one (1) or more lay persons knowledgeable in the area.
C. If the request, suggestion, or complaint relates to the human growth and development curriculum or instructional materials, it shall be referred to the advisory committee responsible for developing the human growth and development curriculum and advising the Board on the design, review and implementation of the curriculum. (See Policy 2414).
D. The committee, in evaluating the questioned material, shall be guided by the following criteria:
1. the appropriateness of the material for the age and maturity level of the students with whom it is being used
2. the accuracy of the material
3. the objectivity of the material
4. the use being made of the material
E. The material in question may not be withdrawn from use pending the committee's recommendation to the District Administrator.
F. The committee's recommendation shall be reported to the District Administrator in writing within ten (10) business days following the formation of the committee. The District Administrator will advise the individual(s), in writing, of the committee's recommendation and advise the Board of the action taken or recommended.
G. The individual(s) may appeal the District Administrator’s recommendation within ten (10) business days to the Board. The appeal shall be submitted in writing to the District Administrator within thirty (30) business days of receiving the District Administrator’s recommendation. The written appeal and all written material relating to it shall be referred to the Board for consideration.
H. The Board shall review the matter and advise the individual(s), in writing, of its decision as soon as practicable.
No challenged material may be removed from the curriculum or from a collection of resource materials except by action of the Board, and no challenged material may be removed solely because it presents ideas that may be unpopular or offensive to some. Any Board action to remove material will be accompanied by the Board's statement of its reasons for the removal.
118.01, 118.019, Wis. Stats.
20 U.S.C. 1232h
© Neola 2009
No challenged material may be removed from the curriculum or from a collection of resource materials except by action of the Board, and no challenged material may be removed solely because it presents ideas that may be unpopular or offensive to some. Any Board action to remove material will be accompanied by the Board's statement of its reasons for the removal.
118.01, 118.019, Wis. Stats.
20 U.S.C. 1232h
© Neola 2009