Reports, guides, handbooks Policy Handbook 2019-20 | Page 42

If the complaint involves the human rights officer, the complaint shall be filed directly with the superintendent at: Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] If the complaint involves the superintendent, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board: Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] If the complaint involves a school board member, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board chair: Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] If the complaint involves the school board chair, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board vice chair: Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] 4. In Each School Building. The school principal is the per- son responsible for receiving oral or written reports of ha- rassment, violence or discrimination at the school level. Any district employee who receives a report shall inform the principal immediately. If the principal is not available on the date of the report, then the employee must for- ward the oral or written report/complaint directly to the human rights officer. If the complaint involves the princi- pal, the employee will provide his or her report directly to the superintendent or the district’s human rights officer. Upon receipt of a report, the principal must notify the dis- trict human rights officer immediately, without screening or investigating the credibility of the report. The principal may request, but may not insist on, a written complaint. If the report is verbal, the principal shall prepare and pro- vide to the human rights officer a written statement of the facts alleged within 24 hours of receiving the report. Failure to forward any harassment or violence report or complaint may result in disciplinary action against the principal. 5. Nothing in this policy shall prevent a district employee from reporting harassment, violence, or discrimination directly to the district human rights officer or to the superintendent. 6. The complaint (verbal or written) should be reported immediately, or as soon after the incident as possible; delays between the date of the alleged incident and the reporting date may make investigations more difficult. 7. The willful filing of a false report will be considered to be a violation of district policy. 8. Although confidentiality cannot be assured, the district will respect the privacy of the alleged target, the reporter (if someone other than the alleged target), the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the district’s legal obliga- tions to investigate, to take appropriate action, and to conform with any discovery or disclosure obligations. 40 B. Investigation – District Employees 1. The human rights officer, upon receipt of a report or complaint, will promptly undertake or authorize an inves- tigation. The investigation may be conducted by district officials or by a neutral third party designated by the district. 2. The investigation will be completed within 30 calendar days from receipt of the complaint, unless impracticable. 3. The investigation may, as appropriate, consist of personal interviews with the alleged target, the reporter (if someone other than the alleged target), the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and others who may have knowledge of the alleged incident(s) or circumstances giving rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of any other methods and documents deemed pertinent by the investigator. 4. In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes a violation of this policy, the district will consider the facts and surrounding circumstances, the nature of the behavior, past incidents or past or continuing patterns of behavior, the relationships between the parties involved and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a violation of this policy requires a determination based on all the facts and surrounding circumstances. 5. The district, at its discretion, may take immediate steps, based on the severity of the allegations, to protect the parties involved in the complaint process pending completion of an investigation. C. School District Action – District Employee 1. Upon completion of the investigation, the district or neutral third party designated investigator will make a written report to the human rights officer. If the complaint involves the human rights officer, the report must be filed directly with the superintendent. If the complaint involves the superintendent, the report must be filed directly with the school board. The report will include the facts, a determination of whether the allegations have been substantiated and whether a violation of this policy has occurred. 2. Upon completion of the investigation, the human rights officer will inform the alleged target of his or her right to review the written report at the school building where the target is employed or enrolled, in accordance with state and federal law regarding data or records privacy. 3 In the event a complaint is substantiated, the district will take appropriate and effective action depending on the circumstances. Such action may include, but is not limited to, training, counseling, warning, suspension, transfer, remediation, or termination. District action taken for violation of this policy will be consistent with requirements of applicable collective bargaining agreements, Minnesota and federal law, and district policies. ahschools.us/policies 2019-20 School Handbook