P1312
ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
PUBLIC ACTIVITIES INVOLVING STAFF, STUDENTS OR SCHOOL FACILITIES
Relations Between Public and School Personnel
Complaints Concerning School Personnel/Instructional
Materials
School Personnel
The City of St. Louis Public School District is
committed to resolving concerns and complaints
from the public regarding district
programs and services to improve the performance of the District and better
meet the needs of the students and the community.
The district encourages parents/guardians, students and other members of the public to first discuss concerns with the appropriate
district staff prior to bringing the issue to the Board so that the issue may be thoroughly investigated and addressed in a timely
fashion. Consistent with the Board's Community
Relations Policy P1105,
the Board will not act on an issue
without input from the appropriate district staff and may require a parent/guardian,
patron or student to meet with or
discuss an issue with district staff prior to hearing a complaint or making a decision
on the matter.
It is the goal of the Board that all district employees
be expected to answer questions, receive input and professionally address concerns and complaints of parents/guardians, students and other members of
the public. If an employee is unable to answer a question or resolve an issue, the employee must direct the person
or the question to the appropriate district
employee.
Complaints regarding district compliance with nondiscrimination laws will be
processed according to P1105. Employee grievances will be processed in accordance with the established
grievance procedures (bargaining unit procedures & non-bargaining unit), or as otherwise required by
law. Complaints involving federal programs will be processed in accordance with the procedures set forth
in the Student Code of Conduct. Other grievances or complaints for which there is a specific policy or procedure
will be addressed pursuant to that
policy or procedure. If no other
policy or procedure applies, the complaint may be brought as described
below.
The following steps are to be
followed by parents/guardians, students or the public when concerns or complaints arise regarding the
operation of the school district that cannot be addressed through other established policies
or procedures.
1.
Whenever possible, concerns or complaints should first be addressed to the teacher
or employee directly involved within ten business
days.
2.
Unsettled matters from (1) above
or concerns or complaints regarding individual
schools should
be presented in writing to the principal
of the school. The principal will
provide a written response to the individual raising the concern
("complainant") within five business
days of receiving
the complaint or concern unless additional time
is necessary to investigate or extenuating circumstances exist.
3.
Unsettled matters from (2) above
or concerns or complaints regarding the school
district in general should
be presented to the superintendent or designee in writing. The superintendent or designee will provide a written response
to the complainant
within five business days of receiving the concern or complaint,
unless additional time is necessary
to investigate or extenuating circumstances exist.
4.
If the matter cannot be settled satisfactorily by
the superintendent or designee, a member
of the public may submit the matter to the Board President with a request for the matter to be put on the Board
agenda. In addition, written comments submitted to the superintendent or the secretary of the Board
that are directed to the Board will be provided to the entire Board. The Board
is not obligated to address a complaint. If the Board decides to hear the issue, the Board's decision is final. Otherwise, the superintendent's decision
on the issue is final.
Prohibition against
Retaliation
The Board strictly prohibits discrimination or
retaliation against any person for bringing a
concern to the attention of the district
or participating in the complaint
process. This prohibition extends to relatives and others associated with the person who
brought the concern or complaint. The Board directs
all district employees
to cooperate in investigations of complaints.
Approved: May 12, 2020