9130 - PUBLIC COMPLAINTS

The School Board of Polk County

Bylaws & Policies

Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013.

9130 - PUBLIC COMPLAINTS

Any person or group interested in District operations may present a request, suggestion, or complaint concerning District personnel, the program or District operations.

Employees should also be protected from unnecessary, or negative criticism and complaints, and free to address misunderstandings between the public and the District by direct informal discussions among the interested parties.

Staff

Parents who have questions and complaints about practices and policies in the individual schools should first arrange a conference with the teacher through the school office. Next, if necessary, conferences may be arranged with the school principal, the Regional Assistant Superintendent, and then the central administrative staff member responsible for the area of operation.

Board members who receive questions and complaints from parents about school problems should encourage the parents to address these issues with the school where the children are enrolled.

If the Board member feels that the complaint is significant or persistent, the matter should be referred to the Superintendent for appropriate action. If a parent has exhausted administrative channels and is dissatisfied with the action that has been taken, the parent may submit the issue to the Board.

District Services, Operations, or Programs

If the request, suggestion, or complaint relates to a matter of District procedure or operation, it should be addressed initially to the responsible person and then to higher levels of authority in the manner prescribed above.

Confidentiality

Pursuant to State law, a complaint of misconduct against a District employee, and all information obtained pursuant to an investigation by the District of the complaint of misconduct, are confidential and exempt from inspection or copying until the investigation ceases to be active, or until the District provides written notice to the employee who is the subject of the complaint, in the manner set forth below, that the District has either:

	A.	concluded the investigation with a finding not to proceed with disciplinary action or file charges, or
	B.	concluded the investigation with a finding to proceed with disciplinary action and/or to file charges. If the investigation results in such a finding, the District shall also file a legally sufficient complaint regarding the misconduct as required by State law and Policy 8141 - Mandatory Reporting of Misconduct by Certificated Employees.

Any material that is derogatory to an employee shall not be open to inspection for an additional ten (10) days after the employee has been notified either:

	A.	by certified mail, return receipt requested, to his/her address of record; or
	B.	by personal delivery. The employee’s signature on a copy of the materials to be filed shall be proof that such materials were given to the employee, with the understanding that such signature merely signifies receipt and does not necessarily indicate agreement with its contents.

F.S. 119.071(2)(k), 1012.31