PERSONNEL 4012

PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION - HANDICAPPED

The Manchester Board of Education will comply with the June 3, 1977 Regulations of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 provides that "no otherwise qualified handicapped individual…shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

In order to implement this policy the Superintendent of Schools is authorized to designate an employee of the Board of Education who will coordinate its efforts to comply with Section 504, including receipt and investigation of any complaint alleging noncompliance. The Superintendent of Schools is further authorized to take initial and continuing steps to notify participants, students, and employees, including those with impaired vision or hearing, and unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements that it does not discriminate on the basis of handicap. The notice shall also include an identification of the Section 504 Coordinator.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

In order to insure appropriate due process standards and to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging violations of Section 504 the following grievance procedure is enacted:

1.) Complaints alleging unlawful discrimination shall be filed in writing with the Superintendent of Schools who shall himself, or through a designee, investigate the complaint and render a decision in writing within thirty (30) days.

2.) If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the Superintendent of Schools, he/she may appeal to the Board of Education within ten (10) days of receipt of the decision of the Superintendent. Such an appeal shall be filed in writing with the Superintendent of Schools in his capacity as the Executive Agent of the Board of Education. The Board of Education shall investigate the complaint and, if it deems it necessary, hold a hearing to gather additional information. The Board of Education shall render a decision on any such appeal, in writing, within twenty (20) days of its being filed, or if a hearing should be held, within twenty (20) days of the conclusion of such hearing.

Adopted: May 29, 1979