103 Policy: Complaints – Students, Employees, Parents, Other People

1.  PURPOSE The school district takes seriously all concerns or complaints by students, employees, parents or other persons. If a specific complaint procedure is provided within any other policy of the school district, the specific procedure shall be followed in reference to such a complaint. If a specific complaint procedure is not provided, the purpose of this policy is to provide a procedure that may be used.
   
    
2. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
    
   1. Students, parents, employees or other persons, may report concerns or complaints to the school district. While written reports are encouraged, a complaint may be made orally. A person may make a complaint at any level of the school district, i.e. principal, superintendent or school board; however, persons are encouraged to bring a complaint at the building level when appropriate. Any employee receiving a complaint shall advise the principal or immediate supervisor of the receipt of the complaint so a decision can be made as to whether the complaint should be referred to a district level administrator(s).
       
   2. Complaints containing serious allegations shall be referred to the superintendent or his/her designee, who shall determine whether an internal or external investigation should be conducted, the nature and scope of the investigation, and the person/entity responsible for the investigation or follow-up procedures. The person designated to investigate the complaint shall report the outcome of the matter to the appropriate administrator.
       
   3. The appropriate administrator shall inform the complainant of the outcome of the investigation or follow-up and any corrective measures that were taken, within the confines and limitations of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act or other applicable law. The superintendent or other appropriate administrator shall be consulted in advance of communication with the complainant and copied on correspondence to the complainant.
       
   4. The classifications of data (public, private or confidential) related to complaints made pursuant to this policy are governed by applicable provisions of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Legal References:

Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), Minn. Stat. Ch. 13;
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g