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Policies » GVA DC Grievance Policy

GVA DC Grievance Policy

GVA-DC values open and proactive communication among the school community members, including parents, students, faculty, staff, administration, and the Board of Directors. Issues that are not dealt with directly can become destructive to the school community and detrimental to the learning process of our students. As adults, we must model for our students a willingness to address conflict directly with civility. GVA-DC’s procedures for addressing differences are designed to support prompt and equitable resolution of disagreements at the lowest possible level. The following steps are our preferred procedure. 

1. Address the issue with those directly involved
  • The grievant brings a situation or concern to the attention of those directly involved. If a parent or student has a concern, they must begin a dialogue with the classroom teacher or administrator with whom the conflict exists.
  • Should a parent or student fail to begin the process at the lowest possible level and instead come directly to the principal, the principal will redirect the person to address the issue directly with those involved. 

2. Address the issue with the appropriate administrator 

  • If a satisfactory resolution is not reached after a direct conversation between the parties in dispute, the situation must be brought to the attention of the supervising administrator. The supervising administrator and the parties will address the problem and develop goals for conflict resolution.
  • The administration will monitor this process until a resolution is realized. 

3. Submit a written grievance to the appropriate administrator 

  • If the grievant is unsatisfied with the response received via steps two or three, the grievant should submit a formal written grievance to the principal.
  • This written grievance should:
    • 1) describe the incident, decision or practice that gave rise to the complaint;
    • 2) cite the policy or procedure violated and/or rationale for concern;
    • 3) describe what conflict resolution strategies were attempted via steps one and two; and
    • 4) explain what corrective action is being requested.
  • All grievances, including those about the principal, must follow step four.
  • It is the principal’s responsibility to manage the ultimate resolution of conflicts between parents, students, staff, and administrators, except those that pertain to the principal him/herself or to the principal’s execution of a school-wide policy of procedure.
  • Should a grievant feel that they were not treated equitably or that the concern did not receive the attention it deserved throughout the grievance process, s/he is free to submit a new grievance about the principal’s dealings with the grievance procedure.
  • Such a grievance would need to follow those procedures sequentially, beginning again with step one. 

4. Provide a written grievance to the Board of Directors 

  • After the administrator has been given one week to respond to this formal grievance, the grievant should bring the matter to the attention of the Board only if the matter has not been satisfactorily resolved and only if it pertains to the principal or the execution of school-wide policy or procedure.
  • The written grievance should be delivered to the president or secretary of the Board at least one week before the next scheduled Board meeting.
  • The president or secretary will review with the individual the above process and ensure that the proper steps were taken before adding the issue to a meeting agenda.
  • Grievances should not be brought to the Board as a matter of public comment as this does not provide the Board sufficient time to consider the issue(s) and address them through the collective governance process.
  • The Board will not hear matters that do not follow this grievance process. 

It is essential to the integrity of our school that the grievance be handled in an informed, direct, fair, and equitable manner. Any concern or grievance must be examined through the lens of the school's mission.