Gooding Jt. School District 231
COMMUNITY RELATIONS 4110
Public Complaints and Suggestions
The Board is committed to providing an effective means for parents and the community to voice concerns and offer suggestions to improve the operation of the Gooding Jt. School District. The Board also strives to resolve matters raised by members of the school community whenever possible. To this end, the Board has established the following process to address concerns, complaints, and suggestions that do not fall within the scope of:
- Any District complaint policy;
- Policy 2530 Learning Materials Review; or
- Any other complaint or appeal process specifically provided in policy.
Each complaint or suggestion shall be considered on its merits.
Suggestions
The Board believes that a continuing two-way dialogue between the schools and the public is necessary. It shall be the policy of the Board to give consideration to suggestions posed to the Board by residents of the District, students of the District and their parents/guardians, and District employees and volunteers. Those wishing to make suggestions should submit them in writing to the appropriate school administrator, to the Superintendent, or to the Board clerk to forward to the Trustees as appropriate.
Complaints
Complaints will be processed according to the step-by-step process outlined below. However, if a person designated to hear a complaint is the subject of the complaint, the process will begin at the next highest step and the process shall be modified as needed to meet the objectives of this policy. If a complaint is directly based on official Board action, the complaint shall be directed to the Clerk of the Board. The complaint may be heard by the Board at the sole discretion of the Board.
Level 1: Address Complaint with Employee Involved or at the Level of the Complaint
The complaint should be received and addressed with the employee involved or at the level closest to which the complaint originated. For example, a complaint regarding a classroom issue should be heard first by the teacher. A complaint regarding the school in general should be addressed first by the building principal.
Any employee receiving a complaint should verify whether the complaint has been appropriately referred to them and, if not, assist the complainant by identifying the appropriate employee to receive the complaint.
Once appropriately referred, the employee should work with the complainant to resolve the issue. If the complainant is unable to resolve the matter with the employee, the employee should direct them to this policy.
Level 2: Principal
If the complaint is not resolved at Level 1, the complainant may provide a written complaint to the building principal stating:
- The nature of the problem and the date the complainant attempted to address the matter as described in Level 1; and
- The remedy requested.
It must be signed and dated by the complainant. The written complaint must be filed with the principal within 60 days of the event or incident, or from the date the complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence.
The principal shall investigate and attempt to resolve the complaint within 30 school business days. If either party is not satisfied with the principal’s decision, the complaint may be advanced to Level 3 by requesting in writing that the Superintendent review the principal’s decision. This request must be submitted to the Superintendent within 15 days of the principal’s decision.
Level 3: Superintendent
If the principal with whom the complaint was filed in Level 2 is also the Superintendent, the complainant may skip Level 3 and submit an appeal to the Board within 15 days as described in the last paragraph of Level 3.
Upon receipt of the request for review, the Superintendent shall schedule a meeting between the complainant, and other parties, and the principal. The parties shall be afforded the opportunity to either dispute or concur with the principal’s report. The Superintendent shall decide the matter within ten days of the meeting and shall notify the parties in writing of the decision.
If either party is not satisfied with the decision of the Superintendent, the Board is the next avenue for appeal. A written appeal must be submitted to the Board within 15 days of receiving the Superintendent’s decision. The Board is the policy-making body of the school, however, and appeals to that level must be based solely on whether or not policy has been followed. Any individual appealing a decision of the Superintendent to the Board bears the burden of proving a failure to follow Board policy.
Level 4: The Board
When the Board receives a written appeal of the decision of the Superintendent in which the complainant alleges a failure to follow Board policy, the matter shall be placed on the agenda of the Board for consideration at the earliest time convenient to the Board.
The Board has the sole discretion in determining how to handle the complaint review, including but not limited to the option of solely reviewing the written record and making a determination or seeking to speak with both sides of a complaint during a properly noticed meeting of the Board.
A decision by the Board shall be made and reported in writing to all parties within 30 days of the Board’s review, whether by written record or via meeting with the parties. The decision of the Board will be final.
Cross References: 2530 Learning Materials Review
3060 Education of Homeless Children
3085 Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation Policy
3085P Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedure, Requirements and Definitions
4120 Uniform Complaint Policy
5250 Certificated Staff Complaints
5800 Classified Employment, Assignment, and Complaint
5800P Classified Employee Complaint Procedure
Policy History:
Adopted on: 8/7/12
Revised on: 9/13/22
Reviewed on: