ARTICLE III
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
Little Compton School District
A "Grievance" is a claim based on an event or condition which affects the welfare and/or conditions of employment of a teacher or of a group of teachers and/or the interpretation, meaning or application of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
1. The purpose of this procedure is to procure fast, equitable solutions to the problems which may from time-to-time arise affecting the welfare or working conditions of teachers. Both parties agree that those proceedings will be kept as informal and confidential as may be appropriate.
2. Nothing herein contained will be construed as limiting the right of any teacher having a grievance to discuss the matter informally with a member of the Administration without intervention by the Association.
1. A member with a potential grievance will first discuss the matter with the Principal, either directly or through their LCTA representative, with the objective of resolving the matter informally.
2. If the matter cannot be resolved informally, a grievance must be filed in writing the Association, on behalf of its member or members, with the appropriate administrator within twenty (20) school days of the time the member(s) m::id/or the Association first knew or should have known of the act or omission giving rise to the grievance.
3. The appropriate administrator shall meet with the aggrieved person and the Association within ten (10) school days of his/her/their receipt of the grievance. The appropriate administrator shall issue a decision within ten (10) school days of the meeting.
4. If the grievance is initially filed·with the building principal and the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance or if no written decision has been rendered within the time limits of Subsection 3 above, the Association on behalf of its member or members, within ten (10) school days thereafter may file the grievance in writing with the Superintendent. The Superintendent shall meet with the aggrieved Person and the Association within ten (10) school days of the receipt of the grievance.
5. If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance from the Superintendent or if no written decision has been rendered within the time limits of Subsection (4) above, the Association, on behalf of its member or member(s), within ten (10) school days thereafter may file the grievance in writing with the School Committee. The Committee shall meet with the aggrieved person and the Association within ten (10) school days of the receipt of the grievance, or at the next regular Committee meeting not to exceed thirty (30) days from the receipt of the grievance..
The School Committee shall issue a decision within ten (10) school days of the meeting.
6. If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance or if no decision has been rendered within ten (10) school days after the Committee has heard the grievance, the Association, within ten (1O} school days thereafter, may appeal the grievance in accordance with Title 16-39-2 of the General Laws of Rhode Island if the grievance involves a termination or suspension or otherwise seek arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
7. Failure to file initially or later to appeal within the time limits provided shall be deemed a waiver of the grievance. Time limits may be extended by mutual consent in writing.
1. No reprisals of any kind will be taken by the Committee or by any member of the Administration against any aggrieved person in interest or any other participant in a grievance proceeding by reason of such participation.
2. The Association, through a representative or committee, shall have the right to assist and represent any aggrieved teacher who desires such assistance and representation through all steps of the grievance procedure.
1. All decisions rendered will be in writing, setting forth the decision and the reasons therefore, and will be transmitted promptly to the aggrieved person and to all parties in interest.
2. All documents, communications and records dealing with the processing of a grievance will be filed separately from the personnel files of the participants.
3. The parties shall pay their own respective cost arising out of the grievance. The aggrieved person shall pay for any copies of materials he/she/they requests if the Committee is obligated to secure such materials.
4. In the event a grievance is filed which may not be finally resolved under the time limits set forth herein by the end of the school year and could, therefore, result in irreparable harm to a party in interest, the parties will make every reasonable effort to reduce the time limits set forth herein so that the grievance procedure may be exhausted prior to the close of the school year.
5. The Committee may require any teacher and/or Association representative to appear before them in order to ascertain first-hand knowledge or information in any grievance.
6. All proceedings shall be private, and only the final disposition may be made public.