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Community Relations Policy #4420 - Public Complaints
Philosophy
The Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education recognizes the need to be accessible to the public and to
effectively handle public complaints. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that complaints or
notification of problems/difficulties from members of the public are resolved as expeditiously and
satisfactorily as possible.
The Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education encourages the resolution of complaints and grievances
closest to their point of origin, with an informal process of cooperative agreement among the
affected parties at the lowest possible building or administrative level. When the results of the
informal approach to complaint resolution are not satisfactory, the complainant shall have the
opportunity to pursue the matter through a formal complaint process.
Formal Complaint Process
The Superintendent of the Lyme/Old Lyme Public Schools shall establish formal procedures for
responding to complaints from members of the public. The complaint procedures will provide for
the following steps and safeguards:
1. further encouragement of the informal process to resolve the initial difficulty;
2. provisions for a process of documenting a formal complaint;
3. provisions for the complainant's right to appeal a decision, based upon Board policy and
applicable statutes;
4. establishment of reasonable time limits for satisfactory resolution of the complaint;
5. protection of individual rights with regard to equity, access, and privacy;
6. requirement for final documentation of the complaint and its resolution.
Chain of Command/ Channeling of Complaints
The Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education hereby advises members of the public that the proper
channeling of complaints involving instruction, discipline, or learning materials is as follows:
1. the first communication of such complaints shall be directed to the teacher or professional
staff member;
2. then to the building administrator;
3. then to the Superintendent of Schools; and
4. lastly, to the Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education.
Although no member of the community shall ever be denied the right to petition the Lyme/Old
Lyme Board of Education for redress of a grievance, complaints must be referred back through the
proper administrative channels for resolution before investigation or action by the Board of
Education. Exceptions to this channeling of complaints are those complaints that pertain
exclusively to the actions or operations of the Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education or its members.
Please see addendum for guidance to address complaints within the district.
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Community Relations Policy #4420 - Public Complaints
Anonymous Complaints
The Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education will not act upon nor respond to anonymous complaints,
except in as much as the school district administration will follow up on any complaints which give
cause for concern of illegal activities or potential harm to persons or property within the Lyme/Old
Lyme Public Schools or grounds. Such follow-up will seek to determine if any verifiable non-
anonymous information exists to substantiate or refute the anonymous complaint.
Specific Guidelines Relative to Objections to Certain Educational Materials
The Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education has established the following guidelines for addressing
complaints regarding the utilization of books and other educational materials in the instructional
program:
1. A parent and/or legal guardian has the right to request that his/her child not read, view or hear
given material provided a written request is made to the appropriate teacher or building
administrator through the following procedure. No parent and/or legal guardian has the right
to determine individualized instructional materials for any students other than his/her own
children.
2. If there is parental/guardian concern about a particular book or instructional material, the
parent will be asked to complete a “Request for Review of Book or Other Instructional
Material” form. This request will be reviewed by the teacher giving the assignment, the
appropriate department coordinator, and the building administrator. If a question arises
concerning the suitability of a library book or other library media center material, the same
form will be used to register parental concern. The form will be reviewed by the library media
center specialist, the appropriate department coordinator, and the building administrator.
3. The building administrator will discuss results of the school’s review with the Superintendent
of Schools and provide information giving the school’s position to the parent. If the parent is
not satisfied with the answer given by the building administrator, he or she may appeal to the
Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education through the Superintendent of Schools.
(cf. 2700 Freedom of Speech/Expression)
(cf. 3270 Controversial Issues)
(cf. 3370 Equipment/Books/Materials: Provision/Selection)
(cf. 4330 Citizens’ Ad Hoc Advisory Committees)
(cf. 5440 Academic Freedom)
Please see addendum for guidance to address complaints within the district.
Policy Adopted: November 2002. Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education.
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Community Relations Policy #4420 - Public Complaints
ADDENDUM TO PUBLIC COMPLAINTS POLICY
For Matters Pertaining to: First Discussion with Classroom Teacher
Disagreement w/Discipline of Student or Professional Staff Member
Dissatisfied w/Instructional Program
Unresolved Harassment/Bullying If Difficulty not Resolved
Requests for Academic Help Ignored Present Complaint to Building
…and other similar difficulties Administrator
If Difficulty not Resolved
Present Documented Complaint to
Superintendent of Schools
Present Initial Complaint to Building
For Matters Pertaining to:
Administrator Where Applicable
Buildings & Facilities, Grounds,
Cleanliness & Maintenance,
Construction/Renovation & Community If Difficulty not Resolved Present
Use of Schools Complaint to Director of Facilities
If Difficulty not Resolved
Present Documented Complaint to
Superintendent of Schools
For Unresolved Concerns for Contact the Director of Pupil Personnel
Special Education Students:
If Difficulty not Resolved
Present Documented Complaint to
Superintendent of Schools
For Matters Pertaining to: Contact the Central Office or the
School District Procedures/Policies Superintendent of Schools Directly
Employment Opportunities, School at (860) 434-7238
Calendar, Transportation, addendum continued
Harassment/Discrimination
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Community Relations Policy #4420 - Public Complaints
For Matters Pertaining to the Contact the Chairperson of the Lyme/Old
Performance/Decisions of the Lyme Board of Education. Written
Superintendent of Schools notice of the complaint may be required.
For Matters Pertaining to the Contact the Chairperson of the Lyme/Old
Performance/Decisions of the Board of Lyme Board of Education. Written
Education or its Individual Members notice of the complaint may be required.
For Objections to Instructional Materials Refer to Procedures on
On Moral, Legal or Ethical Grounds Page 2 of this Policy: “Objections to
Certain Educational Materials”
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