Grievances & Complaints

Muenster ISD encourages employees, students, parents, and community members to first discuss any concerns with the appropriate teacher, principal, or administrator who has the authority to address the issue. In most cases, concerns can be resolved through a phone call or meeting with the staff member directly involved.

If a formal complaint is still necessary, it should be filed as a Level 1 Complaint with the lowest-level administrator who has the authority to address and resolve the issue. If an informal resolution is reached, the Complainant/Grievant may withdraw the formal complaint at any time. All complaints will be heard in accordance with Board Policy DGBA(LOCAL), Board Policy FNG(LOCAL), or Board Policy GF(LOCAL) or any exceptions outlined therein. Neither the Board nor any District employee shall unlawfully retaliate against any Complainant/Grievant for bringing a concern or complaint.

Students & Parents/Guardians

If you have concerns or issues to resolve at the school level, please follow the official procedures outlined in Muenster ISD Board Policy FNG (Local)

Level 1 Grievance

Level One – School or Campus Principal

A formal grievance is first filed, in writing using the Muenster ISD Level 1 Grievance Form printable pdf, with the school or campus principal. You may also include any other supporting documentation relating to your complaint.

At Level One, the appropriate hearing officer shall hold a hearing with the complainant within 10 calendar days after receipt of the written complaint. The hearing officer may set reasonable time limits for the hearing.

The hearing officer shall provide the complainant a decision within 20 calendar days following the hearing. In reaching a decision, the hearing officer may consider information provided with the complaint form and any other relevant documents or information the hearing officer believes will help resolve the complaint.

digital copy of level One Grievance Form

Level 2 Grievance

Level Two – Superintendent or Superintendent’s Designee

If the complainant did not receive the relief requested at Level One or if the time for a decision has expired, the complainant may request a hearing at Level Two to appeal the Level One decision. The appeal notice must be filed in writing, on the Muenster ISD Level 2 Grievance form printable pdf.

The appeal notice must be filed in writing, on a form provided by the District, within 20 calendar days of the date of the Level One decision or, if no decision has been communicated to the complainant, within 20 calendar days of the Level One decision deadline.

After receiving notice of the appeal, the Level One hearing officer shall prepare and forward a record of the Level One complaint to the Level Two hearing officer and provide a copy of the Level One record to the complainant.

The Level One record shall include:

The original complaint form and any attachments.
Any other documents submitted by the complainant at Level One.
If the complaint is against a District employee, the written response of the District employee, if any.
The decision issued at Level One and any attachments.
All other documents relied upon by the Level One hearing officer in reaching the Level One decision.

The hearing officer shall hold a hearing within 10 calendar days after the appeal notice is filed. The hearing officer may set reasonable time limits for the hearing.

The hearing officer shall provide the complainant a decision within 20 calendar days following the hearing. In reaching a decision, the hearing officer may consider the Level One record, any additional information provided prior to the Level Two hearing, and any other relevant documents or information the hearing officer believes will help resolve the complaint.

Recordings of the Level One and Level Two hearings, if any, shall be maintained with the Level One and Level Two records.

digital copy of level two Grievance Form

Level 3 Grievance

Level Three – School Board of Trustees

If the complainant did not receive the relief requested at Level Two or if the time for a decision has expired, the complainant may appeal the decision to the Board. The appeal notice must be filed in writing, on the Muenster ISD Level 3 Grievance Form printable pdf.

The appeal notice must be filed in writing, on a form provided by the District, within 20 calendar days of the date of the Level Two decision or, if no decision has been communicated to the complainant, within 20 calendar days of the Level Two decision deadline.

Unless the Board delegates a committee in accordance with law, the Board shall hear the appeal of the Level Two decision.

After receiving notice of the appeal, the Board or Board committee shall hold a meeting to discuss the complaint no later than 60 calendar days after the date on which the Level Two decision was made.

The Superintendent shall inform the complainant whether the Board or a Board committee will hear the appeal and of the date, time, and place of the meeting at which the complaint will be on the agenda for presentation to the Board or Board committee.

At least five business days before the Board or Board committee meeting, the Superintendent shall provide the complainant a description of any information the Board intends to rely on that is not contained in the record created at the previous hearing levels, including any preliminary hearing.

The Superintendent shall provide the Board the record of the Level Two appeal. The complainant may request a copy of the Level Two record.

The Level Two record shall include:

The Level One record.
The notice of appeal from Level One to Level Two.
Any other documents submitted by the complainant at Level Two.
The decision issued at Level Two and any attachments.
All other documents relied upon by the administration in reaching the Level Two decision.

The complainant may request that the complaint be heard in open or closed meeting. The District shall honor that request unless the Texas Open Meetings Act or other applicable law requires otherwise. [See BE]

At the meeting, the presiding officer may set reasonable time limits and guidelines for the presentation, including an opportunity for the complainant and administration to each make a presentation and provide rebuttal and an opportunity for questioning by Board members.

In addition to any other record of the meeting required by law, the Board or Board committee shall prepare a separate record of the Level Three presentation. The Level Three presentation, including the presentation by the complainant or the complainant's representative, any presentation from the administration, and questions from Board members with responses, shall be recorded by audio recording, video/audio recording, or court reporter.

The Board or Board committee shall then consider the complaint. It shall make a decision no later than 30 calendar days after the date of the Board or Board committee meeting at which the complaint was presented. The complainant shall be provided a decision in accordance with this policy and state law.

digital copy of level 3 Grievance form

Employees

Employees seeking to file a complaint or grievance related to employment matters should use the official forms and follow the process outlined in Muenster ISD Board Policy DGBA (Local).

Allegations relating to employment issues do not fall within the jurisdiction of TEA. Allegations related to local employment issues should be filed directly with the school district through the school district’s employee grievance process.

Public

Should you have additional questions regarding the procedures for filing a local grievance, please feel free to contact the TEA’s Complaints Management Team at complaintsmanagement@tea.texas.gov

Appeal to the Commissioner of Education

If after exhausting the local grievance process (Levels One-Three) you are still aggrieved by the school district’s decision, you may file an appeal in writing to the Commissioner of Education under TEC §7.057 (http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.7.htm#7.057). Exception: A student disciplinary action under Chapter 37 by the board of trustees is final and may not be appealed to the Commissioner – TEC §7.057(e)(2)]. The Commissioner has determined that appeals of decisions by the governing body of Charter Schools may not be considered under TEC §7.057 (a)(2).

If you believe your appeal is governed by this statute, you have 45 calendar days from the date the decision was communicated to you to file a Petition for Review in writing with the Commissioner.

Please read Chapter 157 Texas Administrative Code, in particular Subchapters AA and BB, to find out where and how to file your appeal (http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter157/index.html).

Please pay special attention to the deadlines in order to file your documents in a timely manner.

Should you have additional questions regarding the procedures for filing an appeal, please feel free to contact the Office of Legal Services at (512) 463-9720.

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