File: AC-R-1

COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION

Both Federal and Massachusetts Law make it illegal for school systems to discriminate against any students because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or sexual orientation.  In general, this means that we must provide educational opportunities to all students equally.  The laws further require that we establish a procedure for students to register any complaints about discrimination or discriminatory practices if they feel that they have been discriminated against.

This procedure has been established at Diman to allow students a quick settlement to any complaint or feel that you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex or sexual orientation, register your complaint with your guidance counselor.  If in a brief conference a satisfactory answer is not provided to you, your counselor will provide you a form; return it to your counselor.  You will get a written response within 5 school days.

If you are not satisfied, you must within 5 days register the written response with the academic-post secondary coordinator if the grievance emanates from the academic area, or with the vocational coordinator if the grievance emanates from the shop area, we in turn will respond to you within 5 school days.  If you are still not satisfied, you must file your grievance with the Assistant Superintendent/Principal within 5 school days.  He/she, in turn, will provide you with a written response within 10 school days.  If you still are not satisfied with the response, you must file your grievance with the Superintendent-Director within 5 school days.  The Superintendent-Director will provide you with a written response within 15 school days.

If you are still not satisfied, you may appeal to the School Committee.  They will respond to the complaint, in writing, not later than 5 days after the next regular meeting of the Committee.

For those who choose, a complaint in the alternative may be registered directly with the Office of Civil Rights, RKO General Building, Boston, MA. The School Committee has designated a Compliance Officer. The School Committee has designated the Director of Guidance/Pupil Personnel Services as the compliance officer for both Title IX and Chapter 622 which are the Anti-Discrimination Laws.  If you have any general questions about either of these laws, you may direct those questions to his/her office in the school, telephone number 678-2891 extension 1500 or 1510.

SOURCE:  Greater Fall River