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1310 Complaints Concerning School Personnel, Student Issues and School Matter


Adoption Date: 5/14/1964, Revised: 03/21/2019, 11/19/2015; 01/23/2014, 01/10/2005, 10/07/2004, 02/28/2002, 06/10/1993, 01/10/1980, 02/13/1975, 02/11/1965 
1000 - Community Relations
Public Activities Involving Staff, Students or School Facilities
1310 Complaints Concerning School Personnel, Student Issues and School Matter
Regulation Info: 1310R 

The Board of Education recognizes the right of parents and other community members to register individual or group concerns regarding school personnel, District programs and District operations.  The philosophy of the Board of Education is that complaints are best handled and resolved as close to their origin as possible.  Therefore, District staff should be given every opportunity to consider issues and attempt to resolve problems prior to Superintendent or Board of Education involvement, if possible. 

The Superintendent shall establish regulations for handling complaints against school personnel, Board of education policies, administrative regulations, school matters, as well as appeals of decisions made by school personnel.  Such procedures shall be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement and laws.

The normal channel for complaints or appeals of decisions made by school personnel shall be from complainant to immediate staff member to Principal to Superintendent or designee to Board of Education.  Every effort will be made to resolve the complaint at the earliest possible stage.

Any such complaint must be in writing, signed by the complainant, and include sufficient information, such as names, dates, places and events, so that an effective investigation may be made.  Anonymous complaints regarding harassment, discrimination, abuse and similar matters will be investigated to the extent practicable.  Anonymous allegations of serious criminal conduct or child abuse or neglect will be forwarded by the Superintendent of Schools to the appropriate state or local law enforcement agencies if supported by other credible evidence.

An appeal to the Board of Education will be considered only if it is made in writing, signed by the complainant, specifying appropriate names, dates and places in the complaint or alleged charge.  It must also outline the previous steps taken to address or resolve the issue.

The Board of Education may or may not investigate such complaints or consider such appeals in executive session or public session, as prescribed by law, and will make its findings, if any, known in an appropriate manner within a reasonable time period of time.