KN: General Complaints

The board encourages all complaints regarding the district to be revolved at the lowest possible administrated level. If the investigation and determination procedures of a complaint are not regulated in another board policy or the negotiated agreement, as applicable, it will be designated a general complaint subject to processing under this policy. Whenever a general complain is made directly to the board as a whole or to a board member as an individual, it will be referred to the administration for study and possible resolution.

Informal Procedures

The building principal shall attempt to resolve general complaints in an informal manner at the building level. Any school employee who receives a general complaint shall inform the individual of the employee's obligation to report the complaint and any proposed resolution of the complaint to the building principal. The building principal shall discuss the complaint with the individual to determine if it can be resolved. If the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the individual, the building principal shall document the nature of the complaint and the proposed resolution of the complaint, and forward this record to the district compliance coordinator. Within 20 days after the complaint is resolved in this manner, the principal shall contact the complainant to determine if the resolution of this matter remains acceptable.

If the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the individual in the meeting with the building compliance coordinator, or if the individual does not believe the resolution remains acceptable, the individual may initiate a formal complaint.

Formal Complaint Procedures

• A formal complaint should be filed in writing and contain the name and address of the person filing the complaint. The complaint should briefly describe the alleged violation. If an individual does not wish to file a written complaint and the matter has not been adequately resolved, the building principal ma initiate the complaint. Forms for filing written complaints are available in each building office and the central office.
• A complaint should be filed as soon as possible after the conduct occurs, but not later than 180 days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation, unless the conduct forming the basis for the complaint is ongoing.
• If appropriate, an investigation shall follow the filing of the complaint. If the complaint is against the superintendent, the board shall appoint an investigating officer. In other instances, the investigation shall be conducted by the building principal, the compliance coordinator or another individual appointed by the board. The investigation shall be informal but thorough. All interested persons, including the complainant and the person against who the complaint is lodged, will be afforded an opportunity to submit written or oral evidence relevant to the complaint.
• A written determination of the complaint's validity and a description of the resolution shall be issued by the investigator, and a copy forwarded to the complainant and the respondent no later than 30 days after the filing of the complaint.
  • If the investigation results in a recommendation that a student or staff member be subject to discipline, the specifics will not be included in the written determination provided to the parties to protect the privacy rights of the student or staff member.
  • If the investigation results in a recommendation that a student be suspended or expelled, procedures outlined in board policy and state law governing student suspension and expulsion will be followed.
  • If the investigation results in a recommendation that an employee be suspended without pay or terminated, procedures outlined in board policy, the negotiated agreement or state law will be followed.
• Record relating to complains filed and their resolution shall be forwarded to and maintained in a confidential manner by the district compliance coordinator.

Appeal Procedures

The complainant may appeal the determination of the complaint. Appeals shall be heard by the district compliance coordinator, a hearing officer appointed by the board, or by the board itself as determined by the board. The request to appeal the determination shall be made within 20 days after the date of the written determination of the complaint at the lower level. The appeal officer shall review the evidence gathered by the investigator and the investigator's report, and shall afford the complainant and the person against who the complaint is filed an opportunity to submit further evidence, orally or in writing, within 10 days after the appeal is filed. The appeal officer will issue a written determination of the complaint's validity and a description of its resolution within 30 days after the appeal is filed. Whenever an appeal officer is appointed to review an appeal the appeal officer will prepare a written report to the board within 30 days after the appeal is submitted for decision. The board shall render its decision not later than the next regularly-scheduled meeting of the board following the receipt of the report and provide the parties with a notice of the result of the appeal. Any matter determined by the board in accordance with this process shall be valid to the same extent as if the matter were fully heard by the board without an appeal officer.

• Use of this complaint procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of any other remedies including the right to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the Kansas Human Rights Commission.

If it is determined at any level that a violation of board policy or school rules occurred, the district will take prompt, remedial action to prevent its reoccurrence. The district prohibits retaliation or discrimination against any person for participating in the complaint process; or making a complaint, testifying, assisting, or participating in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing.

Complaints About Discrimination on the Basis of Sex

Complaints regarding alleged discrimination on the basis of sex, as prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and other federal and state laws regulating such discrimination and discriminatory harassment, shall be handled in accordance with the procedures outlined in board policies GAAC, for staff, and JGEC, for students, and shall be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 5928 SW 53^rd Street, Topeka, KS 66610, 785-339-4000.

Complaints About Discrimination or Discriminatory Harassment Not on the Basis of Sex

Discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, genetic information, or religion in the admission to, access to, treatment, or employment in the district's programs and activities is prohibited. (Position, address, email address, and phone number of the district compliance coordinator) has been designated to coordinate compliance with nondiscrimination requirements contained in Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (with the exception of discrimination on the basis of sex), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Personal Responsibility Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended.

For more information regarding what qualifies as discrimination or harassment on the basis of race or disability, see board policies GAACA applying to staff members and JGECA applying to students.

For information regarding the investigation or resolution process for complaints of discrimination or discriminatory harassment not involving sex-based conduct or district child nutrition programs, see board policies GAAB for staff members and JCE for students.

Complaints Concerning Child Nutrition Programs

Complaints alleging discrimination in child nutrition programs offered by the district shall be handled in accordance with the procedures outlined in board policy KNA.

Complaints About Policy

The superintendent shall report any unresolved complaint about policies to the board at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

Complaints About Curriculum

The superintendent shall report a failure to resolve any complaint about curriculum to the board at the next regularly scheduled board meeting. See board policy IF for complaints dealing with textbooks and instructional materials.

Complaints About Instructional Materials

The building principal shall report any unresolved complaint about instructional materials to the superintended immediately after receiving the complaint.

Complaints About Facilities and Services

The superintendent shall report any unresolved complaint about facilities and services to the board at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

Complaints About Personnel

The superintendent or the building principal involved shall report any unresolved complaint about personnel to the board at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

Complaints About Emergency Safety Intervention Use

Complaints concerning the use of emergency safety interventions by district staff shall be addressed in accordance with the local dispute resolution process outlined in board policy GAAF.

Complaints About School Rules

Any student may file a complaint with the principal concerning a school rule or regulation as it applies to the student. The complaint shall be in writing, filed within 20 days following the application of the rule or regulation, and must specify the basis for the complaint. The principal shall investigate the complaint and inform the student of the resolution within 10 days after the complaint is filed.