File: AC-R

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

A.            ELIGIBILITY FOR GRIEVANCE

When a student, employee, or any individual or group acting on behalf of a student or employee, feels there has been discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, marital or parental status, age, disability, or religion, he/ she may submit a written grievance to the principal, immediate supervisor, or directly to the Affirmative Action Coordinator.

 B.            INFORMAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

                                 1.             Grievances may be filed in writing within five (5) working days of the alleged act.

                                 2.             The Grievance Representative shall hold a pre-grievance meeting between the respondent

                                                  and grievant,  within five days of filing, to collect data, and shall make reasonable effort to resolve the

                                                 problem without utilizing the formal grievance procedure.

                                 3.             The informal grievance procedure shall not be a prerequisite to filing a formal grievance.

 C.            FORMAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

                 Level I:

                              1.                          A formal written grievance should be filed with the principal, immediate supervisor, or the Affirmative

                                               Action  Coordinator, as soon as possible, but within 60 days of the occurrence of the alleged incident.

                              2.             The Affirmative Action Formal Grievance Form shall be used for the written grievance.

                              3.             The Level I Hearing Officer shall promptly investigate the grievance.  Within five (5) days of the referral,

                                               he/she shall submit a written decision to the grievant, the respondent, and the Coordinator.

Level II:

                 1.             If the written grievance is not resolved within five (5) working days and the student or employee wishes to

                                 continue the grievance procedure, the Affirmative Action Coordinator will bring said grievance to the

                                 attention of the Superintendent of Schools.

                 2.             The Superintendent will, within ten (10) working days after receiving a written grievance, review the

                                 situation in consultation with the Affirmative Action Coordinator and the grievant.  He/she will inform the

                                 grievant in writing of his/ her decision within the ten (10) working day period.

                               3.             The Superintendent shall arrange a date for the Level II hearing and notify the grievant, the respondent,

                                              and the Affirmative Action Coordinator, of the time and place of the hearing.

Level III:

                               1.             If the written grievance is not resolved to the grievant's satisfaction, the grievant may submit a written

                                               grievance to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will then schedule a time to discuss the      

                                              grievance.

                                2.             The hearing shall be held in executive session.

                                3.             The Board will notify the grievant of his/ her right to be at the meeting and that the grievant is entitled to

                                                 representation by counsel and to speak at the meeting if he/she wishes.

                                 4.             The Board will notify the grievant in writing of its decision within five (5) working days following the Board

                                                  meeting.

CONDUCTING GRIEVANCE HEARINGS -ALL LEVELS

                                 1.             Duration of the hearing shall be established by the Hearing Officer and shall provide for adequate time for

                                                 the presentation of evidence.

         2.             Time shall be allocated for the grievant and respondent in equal parts.

         3.             Each party involved in the grievance shall be entitled to be represented by counsel and other assistance,

                         as necessary. 

        4.             Both parties shall have the right to present such witnesses as they deem necessary to develop the facts

                        pertinent to the grievance.

        5.             Both parties shall have the right to use their allocated time to ask questions of any person participating in

                       the hearing.

         6.           The Affirmative Action Coordinator shall present the grievance formally to

                       the Board prior to hearing the evidence. He/she shall also maintain records of all proceedings.

 ALTERNATIVE FILING OF GRIEVANCE

         1.             A student may, at any time, file a grievance with the U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights,  33 Arch St., Suite 900, Boston, MA 02110-1491.

         2.             An employee may, at any time, file a grievance with the Maine Human Rights Commission, House Station

                         #51, Augusta, ME 04333.

Adopted:               January 25, 1994

Revised:                 March 21, 2000