FILE:  GAE

Cf:  JAAA, JCEA

 

NON-TITLE IX GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

 

 

The St. Tammany Parish School Board recognizes that a grievance process allows for prompt, fair and orderly resolution of grievances arising out of employment.  The person filing the grievance shall be assured freedom from restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal in presenting his/her claim with respect to a personal grievance.  The primary purpose of this procedure is to secure, at the most immediate level possible, an equitable solution to the claim of the aggrieved party.

 

This policy shall not apply to sexual harassment complaints made pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and Part 106 of Title 34 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations.  Any such Title IX complaints shall be subject to the Grievance Procedure developed and maintained by the Superintendent or his/her designee under the provisions of policy JAAA, Title IX Sexual Harassment.

 

For grievances submitted by St. Tammany Parish School Board students, parents or guardians of St. Tammany Parish School Board students, or St. Tammany Parish School Board employees, except Title IX grievances, and grievances that fall under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, or pursuant to other St. Tammany Parish School Board policy or regulation, the following procedures apply:

 

Grievances must be submitted in writing to the Superintendent who will designate a Supervisor to address the grievance.

 

The Supervisor or his or her designee shall investigate the complaint. This investigation shall be adequate, reliable, and impartial. The investigation shall afford an equal opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint and, to the extent feasible and warranted, present witnesses.

 

The Supervisor or his or her designee will issue a written decision on the grievance no later than thirty (30) days after its filing.  A copy of the decision shall be provided to the party making the grievance.

 

The person filing the grievance (“complainant”) may appeal the decision of the Supervisor by writing to the Superintendent within fifteen (15) days of receiving the Supervisor’s decision.  The Superintendent shall issue a written decision in response to the appeal no later than thirty (30) days after receiving the complainant’s appeal.

 

The person filing the grievance may appeal the decision of the Superintendent to the St. Tammany Parish School Board by writing to the School Board President within fifteen (15) days of receiving the Superintendent’s decision who shall determine the handling of any potential appeal.

 

TIME LINE EXTENSIONS

 

The Supervisor or his or her designee may request in writing an extension of decision time lines from the Superintendent.  The request must include reasons for the extension.  The extension request may not exceed ten (10) days.

 

Adopted:  April 11, 2019

Revised:  August 13, 2020

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:100.4

Pickering v. Board of Education, 88 S. Ct. 1731 (1968)

Board minutes, 4-11-19, 8-13-20

 

St. Tammany Parish School Board