FILE:  KN

GENERAL PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMPLAINTS
Complaints and grievances shall be handled and resolved, whenever possible, as close to their origin as possible.

Although no member of the community shall be denied the right to petition the Board for redress of a grievance, the complaints shall be referred back through the proper administrative channels for solution before investigation or action by the Board. Exceptions are complaints that concern Board actions or Board operations only.

The Board advises the public that the proper administrative channeling of complaints involving instruction, discipline, learning materials, or district employees is as follows:

1. Principal
2. Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
3. Superintendent
4. Board of Education

The parent or guardian shall complete a "Citizen/Parent Complaint Form" and a student shall complete a "Student Complaint Form" which shall be provided by the principal or administrative official at the time the complaint is made. The administrator shall then forward the complaint to the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.

Any complaint about school personnel shall be investigated by the Superintendent or designee before consideration and action by the Board.

The Benton Harbor Area Schools, Berrien County, Michigan