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Board of Directors » Complaint, Conflict and Discipline Resolution

Complaint, Conflict and Discipline Resolution

Conflict and Discipline Resolution 

Introduction

It is the intent of Parker Performing Arts School to foster the relationship with parents it serves. This is one of the school’s most important values.  Parker Performing Arts School has a desire to support and assist its parental community, and strives to serve with fairness, kindness, and compassion to the greatest degree possible. However, it is inevitable that conflicts will arise, and how both sides handle conflict plays a major role in defining the culture of our school. Resolving conflicts with civility allows the Parker Performing Arts School administration and parents to model behaviors that we seek to instill in our students.  The Conflict Resolution Policy provides the information required to negotiate the conflict resolution process.


Procedure

The procedures that implement this policy strive to accomplish the following goals:

  • Require that attempts for resolution be started at the lowest possible level before being escalated.
  • Define the frames for the filing of a complaint if related to a specific incident.
  • Define time frames for a response once a complaint is filed.
  • Provide a clear process for appealing a decision to the next level of review. Require that the request for a review be in writing.
  • Provide general guidelines for the grounds upon which a person might base an appeal.

It is our intent that both parties will come to an understanding that is consistent with the PPA principles and policies, and the conflict is resolved with fairness.


While parental behavior is outside the control of the PPA Board, we ask our parent community to consider the following with regard to conflict resolution:


  1. If you have an issue, please address it at the appropriate level.  For example, if you have a classroom issue or an issue with a behavior, talk first with the teacher.
  2. While we seek to support and assist individual families, please recognize that all decisions must factor in the impact of other students and staff.
    1. Conflicts regarding discrimination or harassment will be heard in accordance with the Douglas County School District Non Discrimination/Equal Opportunity policy. This policy can be found at at this link.
    2. Conflicts regarding classroom grades will only be heard by appeal at the School Administration Level. The principal is the final authority on grades assigned within his/her school. Further appeals will not be heard at the Board level.
    3. Conflicts regarding student discipline may only be appealed if there is a clear violation of policy or illegal actions by administration have occurred. Conflicts regarding student discipline will only be heard by appeal up to the Principal level. The Principal is the final authority on student discipline. Further appeals will not be heard at the Board level, except that an expulsion or a suspension in excess of ten (10) days will be subject to applicable laws regarding review.
    4. Expulsion hearings will be conducted in accordance with the PPA Parent/Student Handbook, DCSD policies, and state statutes.
  3. Please be civil. We ask our staff and administration to treat you with respect and courtesy, so please return that same respect and courtesy. If we disagree, let’s show our students how to handle conflict well.
  4. Please understand that privacy laws or other confidential requirements may expressly prohibit the administration from telling you about discipline measures taken against other students. We recognize that the limitation on full and open communication can be frustrating for both parents and administrators.
  5. Failure to  meet timelines stated in this Conflict Resolution Policy will result in your appeal being denied, unless an extension has been coordinated in advance. If an appeal has been denied for not adhering to the timelines in this policy, it may not be taken to a higher level.

We appreciate your willingness to follow the above guidelines when dealing with school conflict. In doing so, you are making an important contribution to our school’s culture. Future PPA families will benefit from your willingness to resolve conflict in a respectful and productive manner.


Process

We sincerely hope to partner with you when resolving issues but recognize that there may be times in which you disagree with a classroom or administrative decision, and we want to afford you a clearly defined and understandable appeals process. If at any time you have a concern over the attitude, professionalism, ethics, or your treatment by a staff member at PPA that concern then becomes an unresolved conflict and must be addressed as a completely separate incident--apart from any initial issue. In order to satisfactorily address each conflict and to avoid convoluting the issues, you must address them separately in writing, beginning with the appropriate complaint form (explained in the following procedures). The PPA staff, principals, and Board will not entertain complaints about staff members that have not been formally addressed using the appropriate forms and appeals procedures. PPA will continue to be very sensitive to issues related to the treatment of students and/or their parents, and this resolution process is intended to provide you with a well-defined means of describing and bringing forth concerns.


While the following procedures designate appropriate timelines and steps for raising concerns and receiving feedback, if your concern involves danger to a student, staff member, or other member of our community, or if there is an urgent need for immediate resolution to the matter, please make that issue known to a PPA staff member and request that the PPA principal immediately be notified in order to expedite the process. If such a request is not granted, you and our staff must adhere to the guidelines presented in these procedures. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in denial of all appeals.

STEP 1: Classroom Level Procedure

If you have a concern or conflict, you should set up a meeting with the classroom teacher or appropriate individual with the goal of resolving the matter informally. Communication is essential to resolving concerns and conflicts. It is important that the classroom teacher or appropriate individual understands your concern so they may fully address it and resolve it. It is important to determine how the concern violates policy and to identify your suggested remedy. PPA desires your input with respect to concerns and conflicts. It is our goal to respond to your concern in a timely manner; the classroom teacher or appropriate individual will provide you with their decision within five working days of being notified that there is a concern. This may occur over the phone, face-to-face, or via email.


STEP 2: Supervisor Level Procedure

If discussions during the Classroom Level Procedure do not resolve the concern or complaint to both parties’ mutual satisfaction, PPA requests that you:

  1. Email the PPA Supervisor within five (5) working days of the classroom level decision. Please use the Communication at PPA document to determine the appropriate PPA Supervisor.
  2. Describe the concern in writing to include the justification and your suggested remedy for that concern.
    1. The supervisor will review the concern/complaint.
    2. You will be contacted within 48 hours of receiving the appeal to confirm receipt of appeal submission. Both parties will meet a mutually agreed upon time to ensure the school administrator understands the situation fully. The meeting may include the staff member who provided the decisions at the Classroom Level (unless the staff member opts not to attend). Within five (5) working days of the meeting, the Classroom Level appropriate supervisor will communicate to you his/her written decision. This decision will include the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the supervisor.

Principal Level Procedure

If discussions during the Supervisor Level Procedure do not resolve the concern or complaint to both parties’ mutual satisfaction, PPA requests that you:


  1. Email the school Principal within five (5) working days of the supervisor level decision.
  2. Describe the concern in writing to include the justification and your suggested remedy for that concern.
    1. The Principal will review the concern/complaint.
    2. You will be contacted within 48 hours of receiving the appeal to confirm receipt of appeal submission. Both parties will meet a mutually agreed upon time to ensure the Principal understands the situation fully. The meeting may include the staff member who provided the decisions at the Classroom Level (unless the staff member opts not to attend), and the Supervisor Level meetings. Within five (5) working days of the meeting, the Principal will communicate to you his/her written decision. This decision will include the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Principal.

Any decisions regarding student grades are considered final at this stage and not subject to appeal. Further student grade appeals will not be heard at the Board Level.


Board Level Procedure

If discussions during the Administrative Level Procedure do not resolve the concern or complaint to both parties’ mutual satisfaction, PPA requests that you:


  1. Submit a written appeal to the PPA Board of Directors using the Board Level Conflict Resolution Form.
  2. Describe the concern in writing along with the justification and your suggested remedy for the concern.
    1. The written appeal should include the Classroom and School Administrative Level decisions.
    2. The appeal is limited to the topic (s) you have addressed in your previous complaints at the Classroom and School Administrator Levels.
    3. If the appeal is received more than seven working days before the next scheduled Board Meeting, the appeal will be added to the next scheduled meeting agenda, and the Board will vote on the appeal during that Board Meeting.
    4. You are welcome to attend the Board Meeting in case the Board has questions regarding your appeal, but you are not required to attend.
    5. If you are in attendance, you will be made aware of the Board’s decision, it will be noted in the official meeting minutes, and no further communication will be sent.
    6. If you are not in attendance, the Board will vote, the decision will be noted in the official meeting minutes, and the Board Secretary will contact you in writing within five (5) working days to provide you with their decision.