Complaint Procedure
To ensure fairness and consistency, the following review procedures are to be used in the district鈥檚 relationship with its staff with regard to employment problems covered by state and federal anti-discrimination laws. No staff member鈥檚 status with the district will be adversely affected in any way because the staff member utilized these procedures. The primary purpose of this procedure is to secure an equitable solution to a justifiable complaint. To this end, specific steps will be taken. The district is prohibited by law from intimidating, threatening, coercing, or discriminating against any individual for the purpose of interfering with their right to file a complaint under this procedure and from retaliating against an individual for filing such a complaint. Where collective bargaining procedures provide for an alternate method of processing complaints, those procedures will apply.
1. Informal Process for Resolution
When a staff member has an employment problem concerning discrimination, they will discuss the problem with the immediate supervisor, personnel director, or superintendent within 60 days of the circumstances which gave rise to the problem. The staff member may also ask the compliance officer to participate in the informal review procedure. It is intended that the informal discussion will resolve the issue. If the staff member feels they cannot approach the supervisor because of the supervisor鈥檚 involvement in the alleged discrimination, the staff member may directly contact the compliance officer before pursuing formal procedures. If the discussion with the officer or immediate supervisor does not resolve the issue the staff member may proceed to the formal review procedures. During the course of the informal process, the district will notify complainant in a language the complainant can understand of their right to file a formal complaint.
2. Formal Process for Resolution
Level One: Complaint to District
Anyone may file a written complaint聽alleging a violation of any state or federal anti-discrimination law.聽The complaint must set forth the specific acts, conditions, or circumstances alleged to be in violation. The time period for filing a complaint is one year from the date of the occurrence that is the subject matter of the complaint. However, a complaint filing deadline may not be imposed if the complainant was prevented from filing due to: 1) Specific misrepresentations by the district that it had resolved the problem forming the basis of the complaint; or 2) Withholding of information that the district was required to provide under Chapter 392-190-065聽 WAC聽or Chapter 392-190-005聽 WAC. Complaints may be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail or hand-delivery to any district or school administrator, or to the district compliance officer responsible for investigating discrimination complaints. Any district employee who receives a complaint that meets these criteria will promptly notify the compliance officer.
Upon receipt of a complaint, the compliance officer will provide the complainant a copy of this procedure in a language the complainant can understand. The compliance officer or designee will investigate the allegations. The school district and complainant may agree to resolve the complaint in lieu of an investigation, in which case no further action will be necessary. The compliance officer will provide the superintendent with a full written report of the complaint and the results of the investigation.
The superintendent or designee will respond to the complainant with a written decision as expeditiously as possible, but in no event later than 30 calendar days following receipt of the written complaint, unless otherwise agreed to by the complainant or if exceptional circumstances related to the complaint require an extension of the time limit. In the event an extension is needed, the district will notify the complainant in writing in a language the complainant can understand of the reason for the extension and the anticipated response date.聽At the time the district responds to the complainant, the district must send a copy of the response to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
The decision of the superintendent or designee will include: 1) a summary of the results of the investigation; 2) whether the district has failed to comply with anti-discrimination laws; 3) if non-compliance is found, corrective measures the district deems necessary to correct it; and 4) notice of the complainant鈥檚 right to appeal to the school board and the necessary filing information. The superintendent鈥檚 or designee鈥檚 response will be provided in a language the complainant can understand.
Any corrective measures deemed necessary will be instituted as expeditiously as possible, but in no event later than 30 calendar days following the superintendent鈥檚 mailing of a written response to the complaining party unless otherwise agreed to by the complainant.
Level Two 鈥 Appeal to Board of Directors
If a complainant disagrees with the superintendent鈥檚 or designee鈥檚 written decision, the complainant may file a written notice of appeal with the secretary of the board within ten (10) calendar days following the date upon which the complainant received the response.
The board will schedule a hearing at which both parties will be allowed to present such witnesses and testimony as the board deems relevant and material. The board will render a written decision within thirty (30) calendar days following the filing of the notice of appeal, unless the complainant agrees to a longer period of time, and will provide the complainant with a copy of the decision in a language the complainant can understand.
The decision will include notice of the complainant鈥檚 right to appeal to聽 OSPI聽and will identify where and to whom the appeal must be filed. The district will send a copy of the appeal decision to聽 OSPI.
Level Three 鈥 Complaint to the Superintendent of Public Instruction
If a complainant disagrees with the decision of the board of directors, or if the district fails to comply with this procedure, the complainant may file a complaint with聽 OSPI.
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- A complaint must be received by聽 OSPI聽on or before the twentieth (20) calendar day following the date upon which the complainant received written notice of the board of directors鈥 decision, unless聽 OSPI聽grants an extension for good cause. Complaints may be submitted by mail, fax, electronic mail, or hand delivery.
- A complaint must be in writing and include: 1) A description of the specific acts, conditions or circumstances alleged to violate applicable anti-discrimination laws; 2) The name and contact information, including address, of the complainant; 3) The name and address of the district; 4) A copy of the district鈥檚 complaint decision and appeal decision; and 5) A proposed resolution of the complaint or relief requested. If the allegations regard a specific student, the complaint must also include the name and address of the student, or in the case of a homeless child or youth, contact information, and the school the student attends.
- Upon receipt of a complaint,聽 OSPI聽may initiate an investigation, which may include conducting an independent on-site review.聽 OSPI聽may also investigate additional issues related to the complaint that were not included in the initial complaint or appeal to the superintendent or board.
- Following the investigation,聽 OSPI聽will make an independent determination as to whether the district has failed to comply with Chapter 392-190聽 WAC聽and will issue a written decision to the complainant and the district that addresses each allegation in the complaint and any other noncompliance issues聽 OSPI聽has identified. The written decision will include corrective actions deemed necessary to correct noncompliance and documentation the district must provide to demonstrate that corrective action has been completed.
All corrective actions must be completed within the timelines established by聽 OSPI聽in the written decision unless聽 OSPI聽grants an extension. If timely compliance is not achieved,聽 OSPImay take action including but not limited to referring the district to appropriate state or federal agencies empowered to order compliance.
A complaint may be resolved at any time when, before the completion of the investigation, the district voluntarily agrees to resolve the complaint.聽 OSPI聽may provide technical assistance and dispute resolution methods to resolve a complaint.
Level Four 鈥 Administrative Hearing
The complainant or district may appeal the written decision of聽 OSPI聽by filing a written notice of appeal with聽 OSPI聽within thirty (30) calendar days following the date of receipt of聽 OSPI鈥檚 written decision.聽 OSPI聽will conduct a formal administrative hearing in conformance with the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 34.05 RCW.
3. Mediation
At any time during this complaint procedure, a district may, at its own expense, offer mediation. The complainant and the district may agree to extend the discrimination complaint process deadlines in order to pursue mediation.
The purpose of mediation is to provide both the complainant and the district an opportunity to resolve disputes and reach a mutually acceptable agreement through the use of an impartial mediator. Mediation must be voluntary and requires the mutual agreement of both parties. 聽It may be terminated by either party at any time during the mediation process. It may not be used to deny or delay a complainant鈥檚 right to utilize the complaint procedures.
Mediation must be conducted by a qualified and impartial mediator who may not:聽1) Be an employee of any school district, public charter school, or other public or private agency that is providing education related services to a student who is the subject of the complaint being mediated; or 2) Have a personal or professional conflict of interest. A mediator is not considered an employee of the district or charter school or other public or private agency solely because they serve as a mediator.
If the parties reach agreement through mediation, they may execute a legally binding agreement that sets forth the resolution and states that all discussions that occurred during the course of mediation will remain confidential and may not be used as evidence in any subsequent complaint, due process hearing, or civil proceeding. The agreement must be signed by the complainant and a district representative who has authority to bind the district.
4. Preservation of Records
The files containing copies of all correspondence relative to each complaint communicated to the district and the disposition, including any corrective measures instituted by the district, will be retained in the office of the district compliance officer for a period of 6 years.
Internal Audit and Monitoring System
The district may ask about protected status to the extent required to do so by state and federal laws, subject to compliance with Chapter 162-12聽 WAC.聽 Information that reveals the protected status of an individual shall be kept confidential.
Resources
District Contact
Matthew Whitten, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Bellingham Public Schools
1306 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6811
State Contacts
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Equity and Civil Rights Office
P.O. Box 47200
Olympia, WA 聽98504-7200
(360) 725-6162
Washington State Human Rights Commission
711 South Capitol Way, Suite 402
P.O. Box 42490
Olympia, WA 98504-2490
(360) 753-6770
Office for聽Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
915 Second Avenue, Room 3310
Seattle, WA 聽98174
(206) 607-1600