Clear Creek ISD adopts grievance policy updates to comply with Senate Bill 12

The Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 13 adopted changes to three grievance‑related local policies — DGBA (employees), FNG (parents/students) and GF (members of the public) — in a single, first and only reading under BF (local) because the changes were required by new state law (Senate Bill 12).

Doctor Engel and district policy staff explained that Senate Bill 12, effective Sept. 1, revised grievance procedures in several respects. The district’s changes include updated timelines, procedures to accept additional documentation or claims at levels beyond Level 1, and a requirement to remand matters back to earlier levels when new information is added. The board also heard that the law removes the board’s ability to appoint an individual hearing officer at Level 4 but permits the board to appoint a Level 4 committee composed of at least three trustees if it chooses.

"There is no longer the ability of the board to appoint a hearing officer at level 4. The board may, however, appoint a committee of at least 3 members of the board if at level 4 the board chooses to do that," a staff member said.

TASB (Texas Association of School Boards) had produced a recommended update; district staff said the changes will be included in TASB update 1-26 when it is released. Staff told the board that multiple grievances filed since Sept. 1 made formal adoption urgent and that emergency adoption under BF (local) was appropriate.

Trustee Lilly moved to approve the first and only reading of DGBA, FNG and GF local; the motion passed with no opposing votes announced.

Staff said the district will continue to implement informal resolution practices and will incorporate TASB's forthcoming update when available.