Grievance procedure is inapplicable to out-of-school suspensions and expulsions or a student challenging a teacher’s evaluation of his or her performance.
A student complaint exists when a student believes that he/she has been treated unfairly or has not been afforded due process. A grievance is a written allegation, officially presented to a principal by a student that there has been an unfair action or inaction committed at the school against the student by a specified individual or individuals, or some other situation, circumstance, condition or factor within the school system’s scope of responsibility that needs to be resolved. Other grievances arise from actual or perceived situations and circumstances related to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status. It is the intent of the Marion County School District to assure that complaints and grievances are resolved in an expeditious, orderly and equitable manner.
Step 1: When a student has a complaint, she/he must first discuss the complaint informally with the person against whom it is directed. The student may seek assistance from a guidance counselor or other faculty members and/or his/her parent(s) in mediating the dispute. (The student may be accompanied by his/her parents(s) or other representative at all steps in this process in order to arrive at an equitable resolution to a dispute.)
Step 2: If the complaint is not resolved informally, the student shall communicate to the principal or guidance counselor his/her desire to discuss the complaint. If the complaint is not scheduled within three (3) school days following the initial communication through no fault of the student, a grievance may be filed. If the discussion is scheduled and held within three (3) school days following the initial communication and the complaint is not resolved, the student may file a grievance.
Step 3: If the complaint is not resolved by the above informal steps, the student shall submit a written, signed grievance to the principal no later than the close of the sixtieth (60th) school day following the alleged incident that prompted the grievance. The written grievance must include a description of the dispute and the facts, as well as an explanation of desired resolution of the grievance. The principal will be responsible for scheduling a discussion of the grievance with the plaintiff within five (5) school days following receipt of the written grievance. The principal shall provide a written answer to the student.
Step 4: If the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved as determined by the plaintiff, an appeal for a ruling may be made by the student five (5) school days following the receipt of the decision to the Coordinator of Student Discipline of the nature and substance of the grievance filed for a final ruling.
Special Provisions
Failure on the part of a student to observe the time limits for initiation and/or follow-up on a complaint or grievance will automatically result in the complaint or grievance being considered abandoned. Failure by a principal to respond to a complaint or grievance within the prescribed time limits will automatically move the complaint or grievance to the next step. Students are required to continue attendance at school and pursue their studies as directed while complaints or grievances are pending resolution. No reprisals of any kind shall be taken by or against any participants in the grievance procedure by reason of such participation.
Copies of all communications pertaining to a complaint or grievance may be provided to a student and if appropriate, copies should be furnished to the Section 504, Title IX, ADA, and Educational Equity Assurance Director for input.
Student Grievance Forms
Student grievance forms are available in each school’s office including the specific “Section 504 Grievance Procedure.” The Superintendent’s designee for coordinating all student grievances is the Coordinator of Student Discipline and may be reached by phone at 352-867-2194 from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. on school days or by mail to 1614 E Fort King Street, Ocala, FL 34471.
The Section 504 Coordinator may be reached at 352-671-6832 from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. on school days or you can mail information to 1614 E Fort King Street, Ocala, FL 34471.
The Title IX, ADA, and Educational Equity Assurance Director may be reached by phone at 671-7711 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on school days or you can mail information to 1614 E Fort King Street, Ocala, FL 34471.