Affirmative Action Procedures:
1. The grievant(s) must present the complaint in written form to the responsible person designated as the Affirmative Action Officer.
2. The Affirmative Action Officer will investigate and respond to the grievant(s).
3. If not satisfied, the grievant(s) may appeal to the Superintendent or designee (not Affirmative Action Officer).
4. Response by the Superintendent or designee will be given.
5. If the grievant(s) is not satisfied at this level, an appeal may be made to the Board of Education which will hear the complaint at the next regular meeting or within thirty calendar days. Local Board hearing shall be conducted so as to accord due process to all parties involved in the complaint such as written notice of hearing dates, right to counsel, right to present witnesses, right to cross-examine and to present written statement. The decision of the Board shall be by a majority of the members at a meeting which shall be public.
6. The Elmwood Park Board of Education shall respond to the grievant within thirty calendar days.
7. If the grievant is not satisfied with Board's decision, the grievant can have it referred to the County Superintendent of Schools.
8. Step #8 - The grievant maintains the right to by-pass the grievance procedure and submit the complaint directly to any or all of the following agencies:
The Commissioner of Education Bureau of Controversies and Disputes New Jersey Department of Education PO Box 500 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Phone: (609) 292-5705
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Newark District Office 1 Newark Center, 21st Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102 Phone: 800-669-4000 or 973-645-6383
U.S. Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor New York, NY 10005-2500 Phone 646-428-3900 or TDD: 877-521-2172 Email: OCR.NewYork@ed.gov
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights 140 East Front Street, 6th Floor P0 Box 090 Trenton, NJ 08625-0090 Phone: 609-292-4605 or TDD 609-292-1785