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Board reviews rewrite of stakeholder grievance policy (KEA); administration and directors seek clarifications
Summary
Administration presented a substantial revision to policy KEA (stakeholder grievance process) that clarifies applicability to district‑operated schools only, tightens language on process and protections, and documents 114 grievances over five years; directors requested wording changes and asked for stronger clarity about timelines, staff protections, and charter grievance routing.
Paul Anderson, executive director for People and Culture, and Sonia Marroquin Smith, HR manager, presented a proposed rewrite of policy KEA (stakeholder grievance process) during the board's Aug. 14 meeting. Sonia said the revision is intended to clarify the policy's purpose, applicability, process and timeline and to make it easier to find needed elements such as purpose, applicability, grievable matters, process and timelines.
Key changes explained by HR included a clarification that KEA applies only to district‑operated schools and does not apply to charter schools (Sonia said roughly 16% of grievances in the past five years came from charter schools and thus were redirected). Sonia summarized that the district had about 114 grievances over five years and that most were resolved before escalating to the board.
Directors raised several questions: Director Schmidt said the board should have had earlier input on substantial revisions and noted wording changes (for example, from "treated with fairness and respect" to "engaging with them respectfully and equitably") that may trigger sensitivity given executive orders on DEI language. Directors also asked that language protecting staff (so that those closely associated with a complaint do not participate in the investigative team) be retained or clarified; administration confirmed stronger language ensuring those closely associated will not participate and that external investigators may be engaged where appropriate.
Sonia and Paul said timelines may be adjusted for practical reasons (holidays, vacations) and that the regulation KEA‑R preserves specific timeline language. After discussion and several suggested wording edits, the board gave consensus to move the rewritten KEA to a future action item for approval with suggested adjustments.
