Uniform Grievance Procedure

The right of a person to prompt and equitable resolution of a complaint filed under this policy 
shall not be impaired by the person’s pursuit of other remedies, e.g., criminal complaints, civil 
actions, etc. Use of this grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other 
remedies and use of this grievance procedure does not extend any filing deadline related to the 
pursuit of other remedies. If a person is pursuing another remedy subject to a complaint under this 
policy, the District will continue with a simultaneous investigation under this policy.
 

All deadlines under this policy may be extended by the Complaint Manager as he or she deems 
appropriate. As used in this policy, school business days means days on which the District’s main office is open.

A person (hereinafter Complainant) who wishes to avail him or herself of this grievance procedure 
may do so by filing a complaint with any District Complaint Manager. The Complainant shall not be 
required to file a complaint with a particular Complaint Manager and may request a Complaint 
Manager of the same sex. The Complaint Manager may request the Complainant to provide a written statement regarding the nature of the complaint or require a meeting with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student. The Complaint Manager shall assist the Complainant as needed.

For any complaint alleging bullying and/or cyberbullying of students, the Complaint Manager shall 
process and review the complaint according to Board policy 7:180, Prevention of and Response to 
Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment, in addition to any response required by this policy. For 
any complaint alleging sexual harassment or other violation of Board policy 5:20, Workplace 
Harassment Prohibited, the Complaint Manager shall process and review the complaint
according to that policy, in addition to any response required by this policy. 

The Complaint Manager will investigate the complaint or appoint a qualified person to undertake the 
investigation on his or her behalf. The Complaint Manager shall ensure both parties have an equal 
opportunity to present evidence during an investigation. If the Complainant is a student, under 18 
years of age, the Complaint Manager will notify his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) that they may 
attend any investigatory meetings in which their child is involved. The complaint and identity of 
the Complainant will not be disclosed except: (1) as required by law, this policy, or any 
collective bargaining agreement, (2) as necessary to fully investigate the complaint, or (3) as 
authorized by the Complainant.

The identity of any student witnesses will not be disclosed except: (1) as required by law, this 
policy, or any collective bargaining agreement, (2) as necessary to fully investigate the 
complaint, or (3) as authorized by the parent/guardian of the student witness, or by the student if 
the student is 18 years or age or older.

The Complaint Manager will inform, at regular intervals, the person(s) filing a complaint under 
this policy about the status of the investigation. Within 30 school business days after the date 
the complaint was filed, the Complaint Manager shall file a written report of his or her findings 
with the Superintendent. The Complaint Manager may request an extension of time.

The Superintendent will keep the Board informed of all complaints. 

If a complaint contains allegations involving the Superintendent or Board member(s), the written 
report shall be filed directly with the Board, which will make a decision in accordance with 
paragraph four of the following section of this
policy.
 

Within five school business days after receiving the Complaint Manager's report, the Superintendent 
shall mail his or her written decision to the Complainant and the accused by registered mail, 
return receipt requested, and/or personal delivery as well as to the Complaint Manager. All 
decisions shall be based upon the preponderance of evidence standard.

Within 10 school business days after receiving the Superintendent’s decision, the Complainant or 
the accused may appeal the decision to the Board of Education by making a written request to the 
Complaint Manager. The Complaint Manager shall promptly forward all materials relative to the 
complaint and appeal to the Board of Education.

Within 30 school business days after an appeal of the Superintendent’s decision, the Board shall 
affirm, reverse, or amend the Superintendent’s decision or direct the Superintendent to gather 
additional information. Within five school business days after the Board’s decision, the 
Superintendent shall inform the Complainant and the accused of the Board’s action.

For complaints containing allegations involving the Superintendent or Board member(s), within 30 
school business days after receiving the Complaint Manager’s or outside investigator’s report, the 
Board shall mail its written decision to the Complainant and the accused by registered mail, return 
receipt requested, and/or personal delivery as well as to the Complaint Manager.

This policy shall not be construed to create an independent right to a hearing before the 
Superintendent or Board. The failure to strictly follow the timelines in this grievance procedure 
shall not prejudice any party.

Appointing a Nondiscrimination Coordinator and Complaint Managers

The Superintendent shall appoint a Nondiscrimination Coordinator to manage the District’s efforts 
to provide equal opportunity employment and educational opportunities and prohibit the harassment 
of employees, students, and others. The Nondiscrimination Coordinator also serves as the District’s 
Title IX Coordinator.

The Superintendent shall appoint at least one Complaint Manager to administer the this policy. If 
possible, the Superintendent will appoint two Complaint Managers, one of each gender. The 
District’s Nondiscrimination Coordinator may be appointed as one of the Complaint Managers.

The Superintendent shall insert into this policy and keep current the names, office addresses, 
email addresses, and telephone numbers of the Nondiscrimination Coordinator and the Complaint 
Managers. (School Board Policy 2:260) 

Nondiscrimination Coordinator:

Joliet Township High School District 204
Amanda Herrera-Ford, Director Human Resources
300 Caterpillar Drive, Joliet, IL 60436 
aherreraford@jths.org 
815-727-6903

Complaint Managers:

Joliet Central
201 E Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432, 815-727-6750
Mr. Shad Hallihan, Principal, shallihan@jths.org                             
Mr. Steve Locke, Asst. Principal, slocke@jths.org
Mr. John Randich, Jr., Pupil Personnel Services Coordinator, jrand@jths.org

Joliet West
401 N Larkin Ave, Joliet, IL 60435, 815-727-6950       
Mrs. Tecara Parker, Principal, teparker@jths.org            
Mr. Brett Marcum, Asst. Principal, bmarcum@jths.org
Mrs. Julie Adlemann, Pupil Personnel Service Coordinator, jadlemann@jths.org

Pathways Campus
110 North Collins St., Joliet, IL 60432, 815-727-6810
Mrs. Jo Wooten, Director of Pathways, jwooten@jths.org