Hickman County Board of Education
Descriptor Term:
Descriptor Code:
Issued Date:
5.501
05/05/25
Complaints and Grievances
Rescinds:
Issued:
5.501
03/06/23
1
EMPLOYMENT-RELATED COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCES
2
The Board believes that differences of opinions arising in the course of employment should be resolved
3
as quickly as possible and at the lowest supervisory level.
4
In instances of questions by an individual staff member concerning the interpretation of policies and
5
procedures to that staff member, administrative practices within his/her particular school, and
6
relationships with other employees, the staff member concerned must consult the administrative or
7
supervisory personnel to whom he/she is responsible. If a satisfactory resolution of the problem cannot
8
be reached after ample opportunity for consideration of the matter, the staff member concerned may
9
discuss the matter with the next level of supervision up to and including the director of schools.
10
In instances where an individual staff member feels for personal reasons that he/she cannot discuss a
11
problem with his/her immediate superior, he/she may take the problem directly to the director of schools.
12
After review of the case, the director of schools shall take action as he/she deems appropriate and within
13
a prompt, reasonable time shall notify all parties concerned of his decision.
14
HARASSMENT/DISCRIMINATION GRIEVANCES
15
Employees should notify any district complaint manager if they believe the Board, its employees or
16
agents have violated their rights guaranteed by the State or federal Constitution, State or federal statute
17
or board policy including: 1,2,3
18
1. Age Discrimination Employment Act;¹
19
20
2. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act⁴
21
22
3. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972⁵
23
24
4. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973⁶
25
26
5. Claims of sexual harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the
27
Education Amendments of 1972⁷,⁵
28
The complaint manager will endeavor to respond and resolve complaints without resorting to this
29
grievance procedure and, if a complaint is filed, to address the complaint promptly and equitably. The
30
right of a person to prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint shall not be impaired by the
31
person's pursuit of other remedies. Use of this grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit
Version Date: June 23, 2026
Complaints & Grievances
5.501
1
of other remedies and use of this grievance procedure does not extend any filing deadline related to the
2
pursuit of other remedies.
3
1. Filing a Complaint — An employee who wishes to avail himself or herself of this grievance
4
procedure may do SO by filing a complaint with any district complaint manager. The employee
5
may request a complaint manager of the same sex. Sex shall be defined as the "immutable
6
characteristics of the person's reproductive system that identify the person as male or female,
7
as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth" unless otherwise required
8
by federal law. 8 The complaint manager may assist the employee in filing a grievance.
9
10
2. Investigation - The complaint manager will investigate the complaint or appoint a qualified
11
person to undertake the investigation on his or her behalf. The complaint and identity of the
12
complainant will not be disclosed except (1) as required by law or this policy; or (2) as
13
necessary to fully investigate the complaint; or (3) as authorized by the complainant. The
14
complaint manager shall file a written report within ten (10) days of the filing of the grievance,
15
of his or her findings with the director of schools. If a complaint of sexual harassment contains
16
allegations involving the director of schools, the written report shall be filed with the Board.
17
The director of schools shall keep the Board informed of all complaints.
18
19
3. Decision and Appeal - After receipt of the complaint manager's report, the director of schools
20
shall render a written decision within five (5) days of the receipt of the report which shall be
21
provided to the employee. If the employee is not satisfied with the decision, the employee may
22
appeal the decision to the Board by making a written request to the complaint manager. The
23
complaint manager shall be responsible for promptly forwarding all materials relative to the
24
complaint and appeal to the Board. Thereafter, the Board shall render within thirty (30) days
25
from the date the appeal was received, review the report and affirm, overrule or modify the
26
decision and render a written finding which shall be provided to the complainant. This
27
grievance procedure shall not be construed to create an independent right to a Board hearing.
28
APPOINTING COMPLAINT MANAGERS
29
The director of schools shall appoint at least two complaint managers, one of each gender. The Federal
30
Rights Coordinator may be appointed as a complaint manager. The director of schools shall insert into
31
this policy the names, addresses and telephone numbers of current complaint managers. (see note)
32
(Note: Title IX regulations require districts to identify the name, address and telephone number of the
33
person who is responsible for coordinating the district's compliance efforts. A policy should not be
34
adopted with a person's name in it; rather, the identifying information can be added and amended as
35
necessary.)
Page 2 of 3
Complaints & Grievances
5.501
Legal References
Cross References
1.
Age Discrimination Employment Act, 29 USCA §
Appeals to and Appearances Before the Board 1.404
621; 42 USCA § 6101; 34 CFR § 110.25
Section 504 and ADA Grievance Procedures 1.802
2.
Equal Pay Act, 29 USCA $ 206(d)
Equal Opportunity Employment 5.104
3.
Immigration Reform and Control Act. 8 USCA §
Discrimination/Harassment of Employees 5.500
1324
Title IX & Sexual Harassment 6.3041
4.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USCA $ 12101
5.
Title IX of the Education Amendments, 20 USCA §
1681
6.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. 29 USCA $
701
7.
Title VII of Civil Rights Act, 42 USCA § 2000e
8.
Public Acts of 2026, Chapter No. 938; Bostock V.
Clayton Cnty., Georgia, 590 U.S. 644, 140 S. Ct.
1731, 207 L. Ed. 2d 218 (2020)
Page 3 of 3

## Table 1

|  | Hickman County Board of | Education |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Descriptor Term: Complaints and Grievances | Descriptor Code: 5.501 | Issued Date: 05/05/25 |
|  |  | Rescinds: 5.501 | Issued: 03/06/23 |

## Table 2

| 3 | 1. Filing a Complaint — An employee who wishes to avail himself or herself of this grievance |
| --- | --- |
| 4 | procedure may do SO by filing a complaint with any district complaint manager. The employee |
| 5 | may request a complaint manager of the same sex. Sex shall be defined as the "immutable |
| 6 | characteristics of the person's reproductive system that identify the person as male or female, |
| 7 | as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth" unless otherwise required |
| 8 | by federal law. 8 The complaint manager may assist the employee in filing a grievance. |
| 9 |  |
| 10 | 2. Investigation - The complaint manager will investigate the complaint or appoint a qualified |
| 11 | person to undertake the investigation on his or her behalf. The complaint and identity of the |
| 12 | complainant will not be disclosed except (1) as required by law or this policy; or (2) as |
| 13 | necessary to fully investigate the complaint; or (3) as authorized by the complainant. The |
| 14 | complaint manager shall file a written report within ten (10) days of the filing of the grievance, |
| 15 | of his or her findings with the director of schools. If a complaint of sexual harassment contains |
| 16 | allegations involving the director of schools, the written report shall be filed with the Board. |
| 17 | The director of schools shall keep the Board informed of all complaints. |
| 18 |  |
| 19 20 | 3. Decision and Appeal - After receipt of the complaint manager's report, the director of schools shall render a written decision within five (5) days of the receipt of the report which shall be |
| 21 | provided to the employee. If the employee is not satisfied with the decision, the employee may |
| 22 | appeal the decision to the Board by making a written request to the complaint manager. The |
| 23 | complaint manager shall be responsible for promptly forwarding all materials relative to the |
| 24 | complaint and appeal to the Board. Thereafter, the Board shall render within thirty (30) days |
| 25 | from the date the appeal was received, review the report and affirm, overrule or modify the |
| 26 | decision and render a written finding which shall be provided to the complainant. This |
| 27 | grievance procedure shall not be construed to create an independent right to a Board hearing. |
| 28 | APPOINTING COMPLAINT MANAGERS |
| 29 | The director of schools shall appoint at least two complaint managers, one of each gender. The Federal |
| 30 | Rights Coordinator may be appointed as a complaint manager. The director of schools shall insert into |
| 31 | this policy the names, addresses and telephone numbers of current complaint managers. (see note) |
| 32 | (Note: Title IX regulations require districts to identify the name, address and telephone number of the |
| 33 | person who is responsible for coordinating the district's compliance efforts. A policy should not be |
| 34 | adopted with a person's name in it; rather, the identifying information can be added and amended as |
| 35 | necessary.) |