Procedure:
Level 1: A Teacher with a grievance shall first discuss it with his/her principal or immediate superior, either directly or through the Association's school representative, with the objective of resolving the matter informally. (Article III.C.1) If the matter cannot be solved informally, the member must meet with the Grievance Chairperson to file and sign Level 1 paper work which will be presented to the principal for a formal (written) decision.
Level 2: If the aggrieved person is not satisfied with the disposition of his/her grievance at Level One, or if no decision has been rendered within ten (10) school days after presentation of the grievance, he/she may file the grievance in writing with the Chairman of the Association's PR&R Committee within five (5) school days after the decision at Level One or fifteen (15) school days after the grievance was presented, whichever is sooner. Within five (5) school days after receiving the written grievance, the Chairman shall refer it to the Superintendent of Schools. (Article III.C.2b) In the SEA, we frequently refer to the "Chairman of the Association's PR&R Committee" as the "Grievance Chairperson(s)".
If a teacher does not file a grievance in writing with the Chairman of the PR&R Committee and the written grievance is not forwarded to the Superintendent within thirty (30) calendar days after the teacher knew or should have known of the act or condition on which the grievance is based, then the grievance shall be considered as waived. (Article III.C.2d)
Level 3: If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance at Level two, or if no decision has been rendered within ten (10) school days after the meeting with the Superintendent, the Chairman of the PR&R Committee may refer the grievance to the Board. (Article III.C.3)
The grievance committee of the SEA - President, Elementary and Secondary Vice-Presidents, Grievance Chair(s), and SEA UniServ Director (who is non-voting) - must decide whether to advance the grievance to Level Three (heard by a committee of the Board of Education). The aggrieved SEA member has the right and responsibility to present the grievance committee with any information relevant to our decision on moving forward. After the deliberations of the committee, a report on the decision of the committee (and rationale) will be provided to the aggrieved member in writing. The decision on whether to pursue a Level 3 grievance will be made in good faith based on the consideration of the best interests of the Association, the likelihood the SEA will prevail, and the knowledge that, while a Level 3 hearing is conducted by a committee of the Board, a decision will be rendered by the full Board in regular session.
Level 4: If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance at Level Three, or if no decision has been rendered within ten (10) school days after the meeting with the Board Committee, the Association may, if it determines that the grievance is meritorious and that it involves the interpretation, meaning or application of any of the provisions of this Agreement and that submitting it to arbitration is in the best interests of the Stratford School System, by written notice to the Board submit the grievance to arbitration within fifteen (15) school days after receipt of the Board's decision. Grievances which do not involve the interpretation, meaning or application of any of the provisions of this Agreement may be processed through Level Three, but shall not be arbitrable. (Article III.C.4a)
The process by which the SEA will determine whether or not to pursue a Level 4 grievance is the same as described for the determination of a Level 3 grievance. The costs for the services of the arbitrator, including per diem expenses, if any, and actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses, shall be borne equally by the Board and the Association. (Article III.C.4d)
Level 1: A Teacher with a grievance shall first discuss it with his/her principal or immediate superior, either directly or through the Association's school representative, with the objective of resolving the matter informally. (Article III.C.1) If the matter cannot be solved informally, the member must meet with the Grievance Chairperson to file and sign Level 1 paper work which will be presented to the principal for a formal (written) decision.
Level 2: If the aggrieved person is not satisfied with the disposition of his/her grievance at Level One, or if no decision has been rendered within ten (10) school days after presentation of the grievance, he/she may file the grievance in writing with the Chairman of the Association's PR&R Committee within five (5) school days after the decision at Level One or fifteen (15) school days after the grievance was presented, whichever is sooner. Within five (5) school days after receiving the written grievance, the Chairman shall refer it to the Superintendent of Schools. (Article III.C.2b) In the SEA, we frequently refer to the "Chairman of the Association's PR&R Committee" as the "Grievance Chairperson(s)".
If a teacher does not file a grievance in writing with the Chairman of the PR&R Committee and the written grievance is not forwarded to the Superintendent within thirty (30) calendar days after the teacher knew or should have known of the act or condition on which the grievance is based, then the grievance shall be considered as waived. (Article III.C.2d)
Level 3: If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance at Level two, or if no decision has been rendered within ten (10) school days after the meeting with the Superintendent, the Chairman of the PR&R Committee may refer the grievance to the Board. (Article III.C.3)
The grievance committee of the SEA - President, Elementary and Secondary Vice-Presidents, Grievance Chair(s), and SEA UniServ Director (who is non-voting) - must decide whether to advance the grievance to Level Three (heard by a committee of the Board of Education). The aggrieved SEA member has the right and responsibility to present the grievance committee with any information relevant to our decision on moving forward. After the deliberations of the committee, a report on the decision of the committee (and rationale) will be provided to the aggrieved member in writing. The decision on whether to pursue a Level 3 grievance will be made in good faith based on the consideration of the best interests of the Association, the likelihood the SEA will prevail, and the knowledge that, while a Level 3 hearing is conducted by a committee of the Board, a decision will be rendered by the full Board in regular session.
Level 4: If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance at Level Three, or if no decision has been rendered within ten (10) school days after the meeting with the Board Committee, the Association may, if it determines that the grievance is meritorious and that it involves the interpretation, meaning or application of any of the provisions of this Agreement and that submitting it to arbitration is in the best interests of the Stratford School System, by written notice to the Board submit the grievance to arbitration within fifteen (15) school days after receipt of the Board's decision. Grievances which do not involve the interpretation, meaning or application of any of the provisions of this Agreement may be processed through Level Three, but shall not be arbitrable. (Article III.C.4a)
The process by which the SEA will determine whether or not to pursue a Level 4 grievance is the same as described for the determination of a Level 3 grievance. The costs for the services of the arbitrator, including per diem expenses, if any, and actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses, shall be borne equally by the Board and the Association. (Article III.C.4d)