GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

In keeping with federal/state antidiscrimination legislation, the Board of Education has adopted and hereby publishes the Grievance Procedure provided for the resolution of student, employee, and parent complaints.

PURPOSE:	To provide students, employees, and parents a procedure by which they can
seek a remedy for alleged violations related to discrimination on the basis of
race, color, creed, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, sex, ancestry,
national origin, or socioeconomic status.		

			

DEFINITION:
PROCEDURE:	Grievant -	Any student, employee, or parent aggrieved by a decision or
condition falling under the guidelines of federal and/or state
anti-discrimination laws.		

	Affirmative
Action Officer       The district employee designated to coordinate efforts with		
			
		antidiscrimination legislation and charged with the
responsibility of investigating complaints.		
				
	Step #1 	The grievant must present the complaint in written form to
the responsible person designated as the Affirmative Action
Officer. (Use Grievance Report - Form A)		

	
Step #2 	
The Affirmative Action Officer investigates and responds to the grievant
(Affirmative Action Officer is to use the space provided on
Grievance Report - Form A)		

				
	
    Step #3	If not satisfied, the grievant may appeal to the Superintendent or designee (Use Appeal - Form B)		

	Step #4 	Response by the Superintendent or designee must be given
in writing. (Superintendent to use space
provided for on Appeal - Form B)		

	
Step #5 	
If the grievant is not satisfied at this level, an appeal may
be made to the Board of Education
(Use Appeal - Form C) 		
	Grievance 			

		A formal written complaint.		

Board hearing shall be conducted so as to accord due process to all parties involved in the complaint such as written notice of hearing dates, right to counsel, right to present witnesses, right to cross-examine and to present written statement. The decision of the Board shall be by a majority of the members at a meeting which shall be public.

Step #6            The Northfield Board of Education shall respond to the grievant. (Use space provided for an Appeal - Form C)

Step #7            If the grievant is not satisfied with Board's decision, the grievant can have it referred to the County Superintendent of Schools.

Step #8          The grievant maintains the right to by-pass the grievance procedure and submit the complaint directly to any or all of the following agencies:

1. The Commissioner of Education Bureau of Controversies and Disputes New Jersey Department of Education PO Box 500

Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Phone: (609) 292-5705

2.	Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Newark District Office 1 Newark Center, 21st Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102 

Phone: 800-669-4000 or 973-645-6383 

3.	U.S. Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor 

New York, NY 10005-2500 
Phone 646-428-3900 or TDD: 877-521-2172 Email: OCR.NewYork@ed.gov 

4.	New Jersey Division on Civil Rights 
140 East Front Street, 6th Floor

P0 Box 090
Trenton, NJ 08625-0090
Phone: 609-292-4605 or TDD 609-292-1785

Notice of Harassment/Discrimination Complaint

Directions: If you believe that you have been unlawfully harassed/ discriminated against, please fill out this form and return it to the Affirmative Action Officer. If more space is necessary, please continue your comments on the back of this form.

Name:		Date of Complaint: _/_/_	
								
Department:	_  Job Title:	_	
								
Interviewed by:	_			

Basis of Discrimination: 
_Sex (Gender) _ Race _Color _Retaliation _Age _Religion _Creed _National Origin _Disability _Sexual Orientation _Marital or Veteran Status or any other legally protected classification.

Individual(s) who allegedly committed harassment/discrimination:

a.)

b.)

c.)

1.	Describe the nature of your complaint. Include dates and as much detail as possible. 

2.	Why do you believe this action was taken against you? 

3.	Identify all employees/students/or others with knowledge of the conduct about which you are complaining: 

Page Two
Harassment/Discrimination
Complaint Form

4.	Did employees/students/or others listed on the previous page personally observe or overhear the alleged conduct? If yes, please indicate the dates of observed/overheard behavior. 

5.	Are there documents or emails which contain information supporting the occurrences described above? 

6.	Is there any physical evidence that supports your complaint? If so, please describe or attach a copy. 

7.	Have you missed any work time/class time as a result of the alleged harassment/discrimination? If yes, please indicate dates of absences. 

8.	Have you received any counseling or received medical treatment as a result of this alleged harassment? If yes, indicate dates of counseling/treatment. 

Page Three
Harassment/Discrimination
Complaint Form

9.	Have you previously complained about this or related acts of sexual harassment/discrimination to a District supervisor or official, or attempted to remediate the issue? If so, please identify the individual to whom you complained, steps of remediation, the date of the complaint, and the resolution of your complaint or attempts at remediation. 

10.    What is your requested remedy in this complaint?

11.	Are there any other individuals you want the District to contact regarding your complaint? If so, who do you wish contacted and why? 

Acknowledgment 

To investigate your complaint, it will be necessary to interview you, the 
alleged harasser(s), and any witnesses with knowledge of the allegations 
or defenses. The District will notify all persons involved in the investigation 
that it is confidential and that unauthorized disclosures of information concerning the investigation could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. 

The information provided in this complaint is true and correct to the best 
of my knowledge. I am willing to cooperate fully in the investigation of my complaint and provide whatever evidence the District deems relevant. 

_____________________________                               ______________
         Signature							Date

GRIEVANCE REPORT - FORM A

STEP #1

FROM:___________________________________________, Grievant

TO:______________________________________________, Affirmative Action Officer

DATE: ____________________________________________

DESCRIPTION OF HAPPENING: 		(notes here, report attached)

____________________________________________

(Signature)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(This Portion to be used by Affirmative Action Officer ONLY)

STEP #2	Grievance Number__________

TO:_______________________________________________, Grievant

FROM:_____________________________________________, Affirmative Action Officer

DATE: _____________________________________________

RESPONSE TO GRIEVANT:		(report attached)

_____________________________	_______________________________	
(Date Grievance Received)	(Affirmative Action Officer)	

		AA Office Use Only			
						
Date of Alleged Violation:  _ _ _ / _ _ _ / _ _ _			
Person Filing Charge:  		
					
Place of Alleged Violation:		

Employment Discrimination Under:

___ Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion.

___ The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits employment discrimination against persons 40 years of age or older.

Basis of Discrimination: 

_Sex (Gender) _Race _Color _Retaliation _Age _Religion _Creed _National Origin _Disability _Sexual Orientation _Marital or Veteran Status or any other legally protected classification.

Circumstances of Alleged Violation in attached report

_________________________
Printed Name of Affirmative Action Officer

_________________________	____________

Signature of Affirmative Action Officer	Date

APPEAL - FORM B

STEP #3

Grievance Number_____________

FROM: ____________________________________________, Grievant

TO: ________________________________________________, AAO

DATE: _____________________________________________

"Grievance Report Form A is hereby attached for APPEAL to the Superintendent."

________________________________

(Signature)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(This Portion to be used by Affirmative Action Officer ONLY)
STEP #4
Grievance Number_______

TO: _______________________________________________,Grievant

FROM: ____________________________________________, AAO

DATE: _____________________________________________

RESPONSE TO GRIEVANT' S APPEAL:

_____________________________________	_______________________________

(Date Appeal Received)	(Affirmative Action Officer)

SECOND APPEAL - FORM C

STEP #5	Grievance Number__________

FROM:_____________________________________________, Grievant

TO: _______________________________________________, AAO

DATE: _____________________________________________

The attached Grievance Forms A and B, are hereby submitted for the Board of Education’s review pertaining to my complaint.

________________________________

(Signature)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP #6

Grievance Number___________

TO:_________________________________________________________, Grievant

FROM:______________________________________________________

DATE: ______________________________________________________

RESPONSE TO SECOND APPEAL:

________________________________	_________________________________

(Date Appeal Received)	(Affirmative Action Officer)

SAMPLE LETTER FOR CONTRACTORS

DATE

NAME

ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP

Dear___________

The Northfield Board of  Education  is  an  affirmative  action employer, and pursuant to federal and state regulations (Executive Order 112246 as amended and N.J.A.C. 6A:7, we must advise you of our intent to negotiate business only with other Affirmative Action Employers. All contractors and subcontractors with whom we contract are obliged to take affirmative action to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, age, or sex.

Please complete and sign the form below and return it to us immediately. Sincerely

__________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Supplier acknowledges receipt of the notice to contractors requiring affirmative action in employment and certifies compliance with that requirement.

__________________________Name of Firm

__________________________Signature

__________________________Title

__________________________Address of Firm
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________Date

Please return to: (district address)