- Pflugerville Independent School District
- Grievance Process for Students/Parents/Employees
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Pflugerville ISD Grievance Process
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Informal Complaint Process
The Board encourages employees, parents, and community members to discuss their concerns and complaints through informal conferences with the appropriate teacher, principal or appropriate administrator. Concerns should be expressed as soon as possible to allow early resolution at the lowest possible administrative level. Informal resolution is encouraged but does not extend any deadlines in the formal grievance policies. FNG (Local) Steps 1 - 2 detail the informal process.
Step 1: Directly Contact Appropriate Campus Staff or Department
The most direct route to resolving any campus or department concern is for employees/parents/guardians to first conference directly with the involved party (employee, teacher, coach, sponsor, admin.).
The majority of concerns will be resolved directly via a face-to-face meeting or email. A request can also be made to conference with an administrator at this level by either party. If the concern is not satisfied or if there is no communication at this level, move to Step 2.
Step 2: Contact Campus Principal or Department Director
Campus principals/ department directors are the next step to hear an informal complaint that a parent/guardian/student/employee feels has not been satisfactorily addressed.
Campus administrators are responsible for the school's operations. Concerns regarding operations begin with the campus principal or assistant principal.
Example: Athletic concerns for HS Athletes that are unresolved by direct conference with the coach, would proceed to the Campus Principal and Athletic Director
If you would like to initiate the process to begin an informal complaint process, fill out the intake for students/parents or employees.. Your complaint will be routed to the appropriate department and or campus.
If the concern is not satisfied or no response at this level, move to the Formal Complaint Process.
Formal Complaint Process
To move forward with a formal grievance please contact us by using either phone number listed: for students/parents please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (512) 594-0046. To move forward with a formal grievance for employees please contact the Human Resources Office at (512) 594-0015. Once we have received the submission, your concern will be forwarded to the most appropriate staff.
Please understand that we may still request you to attempt to resolve matters informally at the lowest-level, as this is a requirement under Board Policy FNG and DGBA
Next Steps:
If you have gone through the previous informal steps of problem solving and have not met a satisfactory resolution, you may then move to the formal grievance process detailed in Board Policy FNG LEGAL/FNG LOCAL (student/parent), and DGBA LEGAL/DGBA LOCAL/(employee) summarized below. Though informal resolution is the preferred path to resolution, you may file a formal complaint at any point in steps 1 - 2 above. Beginning the formal process within 15 days of the incident satisfies the timeliness of the complaint as described in Level 1 below.
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STUDENT/PARENT FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS: (FNG LOCAL)
Complaints and appeals under this policy shall be submitted in writing on a form provided by the District.
LEVEL 1
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The parent/guardian must submit the Level I form to the Student Affairs department within 15 school days of the incident.
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The Student Affairs department will redirect the Level I form to the lowest level administrator able to grant the resolution, this is typically the campus Principal.
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Upon receiving the Level I forms, the level I hearing officer will conference with the complaining party and initiate an investigation, as appropriate. This will be completed within 10 school days or as mutually agreed upon by both the district and complainant.
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Response in writing will be received by the complainant within 10 school days of the Level 1 conference.
LEVEL 2
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Level 1 decisions may be appealed to the next level supervisor able to address the remedy. This may be a Director for the District or Designee.
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Appeals must be filed in writing within 10 school days of receipt of the Level 1 decision. You may request a Level 2 appeal form from the Office of Student Affairs. A conference will be set within 10 school days of receipt of Level 2 appeal form.
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All information will be limited to Level 1 issue and desired resolution.
LEVEL 3
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Level 2 decisions may be appealed to the Board of Trustees.
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A Level 3 appeal form must be filed in writing within 10 school days of the receipt of the Level 2 decision. You may request a Level 3 appeal form from the Office of Student Affairs.
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The time date and location of the Level 3 hearing will be provided to the complainant by the office of the Board of Trustees.
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All information will be limited to the original complaint and desired resolution.
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EMPLOYEE FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS: (DGBA LOCAL)
Complaints and appeals under this policy shall be submitted in writing on a form provided by the District.
LEVEL 1
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The employee must submit the Level I form to the Human Resources department within 15 school days of the incident.
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The Human Resources department will redirect the Level I form to the lowest level administrator able to grant the resolution.
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Upon receiving the Level I forms, the level I hearing officer will conference with the complaining party and initiate an investigation, as appropriate. This will be completed within 10 school days or as mutually agreed upon by both the district and complainant.
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Response in writing will be received by the complainant within 10 school days of the Level 1 conference.
LEVEL 2
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Level 1 decisions may be appealed to the next level supervisor able to address the remedy. This may be a Director for the District or Designee.
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Appeals must be filed in writing within 10 school days of receipt of the Level 1 decision. You may request a Level 2 appeal form from the Office of Human Resources. A conference will be set within 10 school days of receipt of Level 2 appeal form.
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All information will be limited to Level 1 issue and desired resolution.
LEVEL 3
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Level 2 decisions may be appealed to the Superintendent or designee.
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A Level 3 appeal form must be filed in writing within 10 school days of the receipt of the Level 2 decision. You may request a Level 3 appeal form from the Office of Human Resources.
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The time date and location of the Level 3 hearing will be provided to the complainant by the Level 3 administrator.
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All information will be limited to the issues and documents considered at Level 1 and Level 2 and identified in the Level 2 appeal notice.
LEVEL 4
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Level 3 decisions may be appealed to the Board of Trustees.
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A Level 4 appeal form must be filed in writing within 10 school days of the receipt of the Level 3 decision. You may request a Level 4 appeal form from the Office of Human Resources.
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The time date and location of the Level 4 hearing will be provided to the complainant by the office of the Superintendent or designee.
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All information will be limited to the issues and documents considered at Level 3, except that if at the Level 4 hearing the administration intends to rely on evidence not included in the Level 3 record, the administration shall provide the employee notice of the nature of the evidence at least three days before the hearing.
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Contact Us
For questions or more information about the grievance process, please contact the appropriate department:
PfISD Student Affairs (Student/Parent)
Phone: 512-594-0046
Student and Parent Grievance: FNG (LOCAL)PfISD Human Resources (Employee)
Phone: 512-594-0015
Employee Grievance: DGBA (LOCAL)PfISD Board of Trustees (Community)
Phone: 512-594-0012
Board of Trustees Website
Public Grievance: GF (Local)Community Member Complaints
If you are a Community Member, not a current employee, not a current student or parent/guardian of a current student, please call any of the following:- Shari Thorn, Executive Assistant to the Board Of Trustees: 512-594-0012
- Maize Hamilton, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent: 512-594-0010
