The Knoxville Community School District and Board will not discriminate in educational programs on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, marital status, socioeconomic status or genetic information. The Board and the District will not discriminate in employment opportunities on the basis of age, race, creed, color, gender, gender orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability. Further, the District and the Board affirm the right of all students and staff to be treated with respect and to be protected from intimidation, discrimination, physical harm, and harassment.
The Board and the District require all persons, agencies, vendors, contractors, and other persons and organizations doing business with or performing services for the District to subscribe to all applicable federal and state laws, executive orders, rules and regulations pertaining to contract compliance and equal opportunity.
The District has separate procedures for reports or complaints of sexual harassment governed by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. These procedures are available on the Districts website. For reports or complaints of sexual harassment outside of the District’s Title IX jurisdiction, the District may follow any other applicable policy or procedures to respond to such a report or complaint.
Inquiries or grievances related to this policy may be directed to the District Equity Coordinator Linda Russell, Director of Human Resources at 309 W Main, Knoxville, IA 50138, (641)842-6551 or linda.russell@kcsd.k12.ia.us. Students who feel they have been discriminated against are encouraged to report it to the school district Affirmative Action and Title IX Coordinator. The Affirmative Action and Title IX Coordinator is Linda Russell, Director of Human Resources. The District Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Coordinator is Lindsay Rains. Any person having inquiries concerning the District’s compliance with this federal non-discrimination law can contact her at (641)842-3315 or lindsay.rains@kcsd.k12.ia.us. These individuals have been designated by the District to coordinate the District’s efforts to comply with federal and/or state non-discrimination laws. Inquiries may also be directed to the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 400 East 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, (800)457-4416; to the Office for Civil Rights Chicago Office, United States Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, Illinios, 60661, (312)730-1560; or to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chicago Office, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois, 60661, (800)669-4000. Inquiries may also be directed to the Director, Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, 400 East 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.
The Knoxville Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:
- Agricultural, Food and Natural Resources
- Arts, Communications and Information Systems
- Applied Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing, including: transportation, distribution, logistics, architecture and construction
- Health Sciences
- Human Services, including: law, public safety, corrections, security, government, public administration, and education and training
- Business, Finance, Marketing and Management
COMPLAINT FORM (Discrimination, Anti-Bullying and Anti-Harrassment)
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
It is the policy of the Knoxville Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Linda Russell, Equity Coordinator at 309 W Main, Knoxville, IA 50138, (641)842-6551 or linda.russell@kcsd.k12.ia.us.
Students, parents of students, employees, and applicants for employment in the school district have the right to file a formal complaint alleging discrimination. The district has policies and procedures in place to identify and investigate complaints alleging discrimination. If appropriate, the district will take steps to prevent the recurrence of discrimination and to correct its discriminatory effects on the Complainant and others.
A Complainant may attempt to resolve the problem informally by discussing the matter with a building principal or a direct supervisor. However, the Complainant has the right to end the informal process at any time and pursue the formal grievance procedures outlined below. Use of the informal or formal grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies. Please note that informal processes and procedures are not to be used in certain circumstances (e.g., sexual harassment and sexual assault).
Filing a Complaint
A Complainant who wishes to avail himself/herself of this grievance procedure may do so by filing a complaint with the equity coordinator(s). The alternate is Craig Mobley, School Business Manager and Board Secretary. An alternate will be designated in the event it is claimed that the Equity Coordinator or School Business Manager committed the alleged discrimination or some other conflict of interest exists. Complaints shall be filed within 20 days (twenty) of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the Complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. The Complainant will state the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The equity coordinator(s) shall assist the Complainant as needed.
Investigation
Within 2 (two) working days from receipt of the complaint unless there are extenuating circumstances, the equity coordinator will begin the investigation of the complaint or appoint a qualified person to undertake the investigation (hereinafter “equity coordinator”). If the Complainant is under 18 years of age, the equity coordinator shall notify his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) that they may attend investigatory meetings in which the Complainant is involved. The complaint and identity of the Complainant, Respondent, or witnesses will only be disclosed as reasonably necessary in connection with the investigation or as required by law or policy. The investigation may include, but is not limited to the following:
-
A request for the Complainant to provide a written statement regarding the nature of the complaint;
-
A request for the individual named in the complaint to provide a written statement;
-
A request for witnesses identified during the course of the investigation to provide a written statement;
-
Interviews of the Complainant, Respondent, or witnesses;
-
An opportunity to present witnesses or other relevant information; and
-
Review and collection of documentation or information deemed relevant to the investigation.
Within 15 (fifteen) working days unless there are extenuating circumstances, the equity coordinator shall complete the investigation and issue a report with respect to the findings.
The equity coordinator shall notify the Complainant and Respondent of the decision within 5 (five) working days of completing the written report. Notification shall be by U.S. mail, first class.
Decision and Appeal
The complaint is closed after the equity coordinator has issued the report, unless within 10 (ten) working days after receiving the decision, either party appeals the decision to the Superintendent by making a written request detailing why he/she believes the decision should be reconsidered. The equity coordinator shall promptly forward all materials relative to the complaint and appeal to the Superintendent. Within 10 (ten) working days, the Superintendent shall affirm, reverse, amend the decision, or direct the equity coordinator to gather additional information. The Superintendent shall notify the Complainant, Respondent, and the equity coordinator of the decision within 5 (five) working days of the decision. Notification shall be by U.S. mail, first class.
The decision of the Superintendent shall be final.
The decision of the Superintendent in no way prejudices a party from seeking redress through state or federal agencies as provided by in law.
This policy and procedures are to be used for complaints of discrimination, in lieu of any other general complaint policies or procedures that may be available.
If any of the stated timeframes cannot be met by the district, the district will notify the parties and pursue completion as promptly as possible.
Retaliation against any person, because the person has filed a complaint or assisted or participated in an investigation, is prohibited. Persons found to have engaged in retaliation shall be subject to discipline by appropriate measures.
Approved: 03/13/2017 Reviewed: 1/24/2022 Revised: 11/9/2020
