3340. 	GRIEVANCE
 
	The Board of Education shall develop and practice reasonable and effective means for the resolution of disputes that may arise in the employment of teaching staff members not covered by the terms of a negotiated agreement. 
 
The Board directs that any grievance not provided for by negotiated agreement be resolved by submission to the following grievance procedure, which is designed to promote proper and equitable settlement of grievances at the lowest appropriate level and to facilitate an orderly process for the resolution of grievances. 
 
For the purposes of this policy, "grievance" means an unresolved problem concerning the application or interpretation by an officer or employee of this district of law, regulations of the State Board of Education, the bylaws or policies of the Board, or the administrative regulations of the Superintendent; "grievant" is a district employee who alleges a grievance or the employee's representative; "party" means the grievant or any person named in the grievance as allegedly having violated a law, bylaw, policy, or regulation; and "day" means a school day. 

A grievant may use personal leave time when it becomes necessary to process a grievance during school hours. A grievance that arises late in the school term will be submitted to an expedited process in order that the grievance may be resolved as soon after the school term as possible. There will be no reprisal of any kind taken against any employee or employee's representative for participation in a grievance. 
 
Any alleged grievance should, at the first instance, be discussed in one or more private, informal conferences between the parties involved or between the grievant and his/her immediate supervisor. A grievance not resolved in one or more such private meetings may be processed in accordance with the following procedure. 
 
Level One 
 
Within ten working days of the occurrence of the act or omission giving rise to the grievance, the grievant must present his/her grievance in writing to the grievant’s immediate supervisor. The written document will be a clear, concise statement of the grievance and will include the law, rule, policy, or regulation that the grievant alleges to have been violated; the factual circumstances on which the grievance is based; the person or persons involved; the decision, if any, rendered at the private conference; and the remedy sought. 
 
Any party to the grievance may request a personal conference with the supervisor in order to resolve the grievance.
 
Within ten working days the supervisor shall present a decision to the grievant in writing. If the supervisor does not respond during the time permitted, the grievant may appeal to the next level. 
 
Level Two 
 
A grievant not satisfied with a decision at Level One may appeal that decision in writing to the Principal within five working days after receipt of the decision or the expiration of the time during which the decision must be rendered. The written appeal will include a copy of the original grievance; the decision rendered, if any; the name of the grievant's representative, if any; and a clear, concise statement of the reasons for the appeal of the decision. 
  
The Principal shall present a decision to the grievant within ten working days. If no decision is rendered within that time limit, the grievant may appeal to the next level. 
 
Level Three 
 
A grievant not satisfied with a decision at Level Two may appeal that decision in writing to the Superintendent within five working days after receipt of the decision or the expiration of the time during which the decision must be rendered. The written appeal to the Superintendent will include copies of the original grievance, the appeal of that grievance at Level Two, and the decision, if any, rendered at Level Two. Within 15 working days after the delivery of the appeal, the Superintendent shall investigate the grievance, giving all persons who participate in Levels One and Two a reasonable opportunity to be heard. 
 
Within 20 working days of the presentation of the appeal, the Superintendent shall submit a decision in writing together with the reasons that support that decision to the grievant and any other party to the grievance. If the Superintendent does not render a decision within that time limit, the grievant may appeal to the next level. 
 
Level Four 
 
A grievant not satisfied with the Superintendent's decision may appeal that decision in writing to the Board within five working days after the receipt of the decision or the expiration of the time during which the decision must be rendered. The written appeal to the Board will include copies of the original grievance, the appeal of that grievance at Level Two, and the decisions, if any, rendered at Levels Three and Four. 
 
The Board shall schedule the grievance for hearing at a private session to be held within 30 calendar days of the presentation of the appeal. The grievant shall be present at the hearing and may require the presence of a party to the grievance. 
 
Within 30 calendar days of the hearing, the Board shall submit its decision in writing together with reasons that support the decision to the grievant. A copy of the decision shall be given to the Superintendent and to any other party to the grievance. 

	The decision of the Board shall be final. 

HPRHS Notice of Non-Discrimination 

Español: https://www.hpregional.org/NoticeofND

High Point Regional School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of their operations. The lack of English language skills shall not be a barrier to admission or participation in the district's activities and programs. High Point Regional School District also does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.

Title IX - Affirmative Action Coordinator:	504 Coordinator:
Mr. Seamus Campbell 	Mrs. Courtney Delaney 
Director of Curriculum and Instruction	Director of Special Education, Child Study 		Team & Guidance
scampbell@hpregional.org   973-875-3170	cdelaney@hpregional.org   973-875-3101 		x1308

High Point Regional High School, 299 Pidgeon Hill Road, Sussex, NJ 07461

N.J.S.A.	34:13A-5.3

Date Adopted:  November 17, 2008
Date Revised:  August 22, 2023