Board of Education Community
Complaints
and Inquiries
The Board of Education welcomes inquiries
about and constructive criticism of the district's programs, equipment, operations
and personnel. The procedures used to investigate and solve problems promptly,
and to provide accurate information in answer to inquiries shall include the
following steps:
1.
A parent or other public complainant should first seek to resolve his/her concern
with the teacher or other staff member involved.
2.
Unresolved concerns should then be brought to the building administrator.
3.
If the matter remains unresolved, it should then be presented to the
Superintendent of Schools.
4.
If the matter continues to be unresolved, the Superintendent shall advise the
Board of all facts available concerning the unresolved issues prior to a formal
hearing.
5. Upon the request of the parent or public complainant, a formal hearing before the Board of Education will be held. The decision reached shall be the final decision of the school system.
Such procedures shall conform to state law and applicable negotiated agreements. All school personnel will maintain appropriate documentation regarding parental or public concerns/complaints that are of a serious nature. Such documentation will be available to professional stall members involved with a particular concern/complaint.
Parents/guardians and pupils will be
informed of the proper avenues to follow in the individual school.
When a Board member is
confronted with an issue, he/she will withhold comment, commitment and/or
opinion and refer the complaint or inquiry to the Superintendent.
Only in those cases
where satisfactory adjustment cannot be made by the Superintendent and the
staff shall communications and complaints be referred to the Board of Education
for resolution.
All signed complaints
shall be acknowledged promptly.
Date Revised:
Date Adopted:
Legal References: N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq. Open
Public Meetings Act
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1 General
mandatory powers and duties
N.J.S.A. 18A:54-20 Powers
of Board (county vocational schools)
Cross References: 1120 Board of
Education meetings
4112.6 Personnel records
4116 Evaluation
4148 Employee protection
4212.6 Personnel records
4248 Employee protection
5145.6 Pupil grievance procedure
6144 Controversial issues
6161.1 Guidelines for evaluation and selection of instructional
materials
6161.2 Complaints regarding instructional materials
6163.1 Media center/library
9010 Role of the member
9020 Public statements
9123 Appointment of Board secretary