ARTICLE VI GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

A grievance is defined as a complaint by an employee that there has been an alleged violation of the terms of this Agreement. No employee may initiate a grievance after fifteen (15) work days following the alleged violation of the Agreement.

Step One

The grievant should attempt to resolve the grievance informally with his/her immediate supervisor. The immediate supervisor shall arrange an informal meeting within five (5) days after receipt of the grievance form. The purpose of the meeting should be to describe the problem including the events that took place and the resolution sought. Within five (5) days of the informal meeting, the immediate supervisor will issue a written response. If the grievance cannot be resolved informally, the grievant may within five (5) work days of receipt of the written response request that the grievance proceed to Step Two.

Step Two

The superintendent shall arrange a meeting within five (5) work days after receipt of the request. The grievant shall explain the grievance and may have a representative to assist in developing an understanding of the problem. The superintendent shall issue a written response within five (5) work days after the meeting.

Step Three

If the grievance has not be resolved within twenty-one (21) days after the decision is made by the Superintendent, the grievant may forward to the Board of Education the grievance, the Superintendent's decision, and a written request for review of the grievance to the Board of Education, together with any written argument of the grievanct supporting the request for the Board to intervene, prior to the end of twenty-one (21) days. The Board of Education will have until the Board of Education's next regularly-scheduled meeting to decide whether to intervene or to decline to intervene in the grievance. The Board of Education shall make known its decision in writing to accept or decline the request for review to the grievant.

If the Board of Education votes in public session to intervene in the grievance process, then the Board of Education will promptly schedule a grievance hearing before the Board of Education which hearing will be conducted no later than the date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education.

Step Four

If the Association is not satisfied with the response of the Board at Step Three, the Association may within twenty-five (25) work days file with the AAA to resolve the issue through binding and final arbitration on the parties. The grievant shall not suffer any loss of pay for attendance at the arbitration hearing.

Rules

The rules of said arbitration shall be conducted under the Voluntary Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

Costs

The costs of the arbitration itself (inclusive of the arbitrator's fees and expenses) shall be borne equally between the parties. Each party shall be responsible for any costs attributable to its own representation.

Meeting Time

Meeting times in Step One and Two shall be determined by mutual agreement of the grievant and the appropriate supervisor.

Class Grievance

Class grievances involving one or more employees or one or more supervisors, and grievances involving an administrator above the building level may be initially filed by the Association at Step Two.

Grievance Withdrawal

A grievance may be withdrawn at any level without establishing precedent.