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Adoption Date: Date of manual adoption Section KJ

If a member of the community has a complaint, the following procedures are intended to assist in its resolution:

• If the matter relates to a student, and it is appropriate, talk with the student's teacher. If the matter
  remains unresolved, meet with the school Director.
• If the matter relates to school personnel, and it is appropriate, meet with the school personnel. If the
  matter remains unresolved, meet with the school Director.
• If the matter relates to facility, services, instructional resources or any other matter, it is appropriate to
  meet with the school Director.
• When a complaint is made directly to the GC as a whole or to a GC member as an individual, it will
  be referred to the school administration for study and resolution, if possible.

Governing Council Complaint Procedure:
Whenever a complaint is made directly to the GC as a whole or to a GC member as an individual, it will be referred to the school Director for study and resolution, if possible.

The administration will develop a procedure for courteously receiving complaints, and will take steps to make
proper replies to complainants.

Adoption Date: Date of manual adoption Section KJ-2

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The GC will consider hearing citizen complaints when they have not been resolved by the administration.
Matters referred to the GC as a whole must be in writing, should clearly identify the problem, and specifically
state the desired action. The GC will not consider or act on complaints that have not been explored at the
appropriate administrative level.

Procedures:

Taos Academy has established a fair complaint procedure to ensure that legitimate complaints and disputes are reviewed by the appropriate authority in order to secure equitable solutions. The goal is to provide a fair procedure to resolve complaint issues expeditiously at the lowest possible administrative level.

• Step 1 An individual with a complaint or grievance should present it to the other party or parties involved in the complaint or grievance. The complaint or grievance must be in relation to school policies and
  procedures or federal or state regulations. The party bringing the complaint will discuss it with the individuals involved and will attempt to reach a satisfactory solution. Discussion on key points and possible solutions will be recorded. If the grievance is not resolved informally to the satisfaction of the grievant within 5 days of presentation to the parties involved, the grievant may proceed to Step 2.
• Step 2 To schedule a meeting with the Director, the grievant must submit a “Grievance Review Request” to the Director along with recorded notes from step 1 within 10 work days of presentation of the complaint to the parties involved. The Director shall schedule a meeting within 7 work days of the request.The Director will discuss it with the individuals involved and will attempt to reach a satisfactory solution.
  Discussion key points and possible solutions will be recorded. If the grievance is not resolved to the
  satisfaction of the grievant within 5 work days of presentation to the Director, the grievant may proceed to
  Step 3.
• Step 3 The grievant may make a request after 5 work days of presentation of the complaint to the
  Director for a meeting with the Director and the Governing Council President. The parties shall schedule a meeting within 7 work days of the request. Discussion key points and possible solutions will be recorded.
• Step 4 After this meeting, if the grievance remains unresolved the grievant may request that the
  grievance be placed on the agenda of the next regular open Governing Council meeting. If appropriate, the
  agreement shall be addressed in Executive Session as provided for in the New Mexico Open Meetings Act.
• Step 5 If the grievance still remains unresolved, the grievant may make a written request for mediation
  by an outside mediator approved by both parties.

All parties involved with grievance procedures shall at all times maintain the confidentiality of all disputes
covered under this section, including disputes resolved and in progress.

Adopted: date of manual adoption