After Much Discussion, School Board Grievance Policy a Done Deal

Long nights and a month of discussion has finally resulted in the approval a new grievance procedure for Shorewood teachers and administrators.

Just days before Oct. 1 — the deadline mandated by the state for districts to have the procedure in place — the Shorewood School Board Tuesday approved the document, which allows teachers to challenge termination and discipline or to grieve over workplace safety.

The process of a creating a grievance policy got off to a rocky start in August, when teachers and parents complained about the policy included in an employee handbook recommended by administrators. and urged the district to work with the staff on creating a policy.

Ultimately, a committee made up of residents, teachers and board members was created to draft the policy after the board .

Board member Colin Plese said the district has a much better document because of the collaboration.

“There was an extensive amount of time sent on this, many meetings until 11 at night,” Plese said. “This is certainly the most unique (procedure) among others I have viewed.”

Under the policy, employees grieving discipline or workplace safety will first meet with their supervisor or principal, and if the matter could not be resolved there, the superintendent would engage in fact-finding and issue a ruling.

Then, an impartial hearing officer would serve like an appellate judge, reviewing facts and the superintendent’s decision. If the issue still isn’t resolved, it will move to the School Board, which will make a final decision.

Grievances filed over termination will follow a similar channel, but will start at the superintendent level when the employee is informed of the intent to terminate. The employee can then file a grievance, which will spark an investigation and ruling by the superintendent.

If not satisfied, the employee would appeal to the impartial hearing officer, then to the School Board, then back to the hearing officer and again to the board, which would need a super majority vote to overturn the hearing officer's decision.