STAFF COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES
The School Committee will encourage the administration to develop effective means of
resolving differences that may arise among employees and between employees and
administrators; reduce potential areas of grievances; and establish and maintain recognized
channels of communication between the staff, administration, and School Committee.
It is the Committee's desire that grievance procedures provide for prompt and equitable
adjustment of differences at the lowest possible administrative level, and that each employee
be assured opportunity for an orderly presentation and review of complaints and concerns.
Channels established will provide for the following:
1. That teachers and other school employees may appeal a ruling of a Principal or other
administrator to the Superintendent.
2. That all school employees may appeal a ruling of the Superintendent to the
Committee, except in those areas where the law has specifically assigned authority to
the Principal and/or the Superintendent and Committee action would be in conflict with
that law.
3. That all hearings of complaints before the Superintendent or Committee be
conducted in the presence of the administrator who made the ruling that is the subject
of the grievance.
The process established for the resolution of grievances in contracts negotiated with recognized
employee bargaining units will apply only to "grievances" as defined in the particular contract.
SOURCE: MASC - Reviewed 2022
LEGAL REFS.: M.G.L. 150E:5 and 8
CONTRACT REFS.: All Contract Agreements
NOTE: Grievance procedures established through negotiated agreements may be
referred to, as in the policy above. Many school districts also cite specific article and
section numbers with the contract references.
Reviewed and Edited by Shutesbury Policy Committee: 4-11-24First Reading by Shutesbury
School Committee: 5-16-24
Second Reading, First Vote by Shutesbury School Committee: 6-20-24
Final Vote by Shutesbury School Committee: 9-19-24