POLICY 2-3.5 PUBLIC COMPLAINTS
Generally
A complaint involving a particular Montgomery County public school shall first be handled within the school. If the complaint cannot be resolved through the school, it shall be referred to the division superintendent or his/her designee. If the central office staff and complainant cannot reach a satisfactory solution, the matter may, at the School Board's discretion, be heard at a regular School Board meeting.
Communications from the public -- including petitions -- shall receive official recognition by the School Board only when submitted with verifiable signatures and places of residence. No anonymous communications shall be considered. Except in emergencies, the School Board shall not attempt to decide upon any question before examining and evaluating the information any person requests the School Board to consider. The division superintendent shall be given an opportunity to examine and to evaluate all such information and to recommend action before the School Board attempts to make a decision.
Specific complaints regarding instructional
materials and learning resources shall be handled as described in Montgomery
County School Board Policy 6-5.6. Specific complaints regarding students and
personnel shall be handled as described in Montgomery County School Board
Policies 1-6.8 and 5-9.1.
Any parent, custodian, or legal guardian of a pupil attending the Montgomery County Public Schools who is aggrieved by an action of the School Board may, within thirty days after such action, petition the local circuit court to review the action of the School Board. The court will sustain the action of the School Board unless the School Board exceeded its authority, acted arbitrarily or capriciously, or abused its discretion.
LEGAL REFERENCE: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.1-87, 22.1-253.13:7.
Revised: September
2006