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WGSD Grievance Procedures

The Webster Groves School District is committed to maintaining an educational and workplace environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services, activities and facilities. The District is committed to providing equal opportunity in all areas of education, recruiting, hiring, retention, promotion and contracted service.

The District’s grievance process will provide a prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and will:

  1. Treat complainants and respondents equitably by providing remedies to a complainant where a determination of responsibility for sexual harassment has been made against the respondent;
  2. Comply with Title IX regulations before imposing any disciplinary sanctions or other actions that are not supportive measures against a respondent;
  3. Require a decision-maker to objectively evaluate all relevant evidence, including both inculpatory and exculpatory evidence, and not make credibility determinations based on a person's status as a complainant, respondent or witness;
  4. Require that all Title IX coordinators, investigators, those responsible for facilitating informal resolution processes and decision-makers not have a conflict of interest or bias for or against complainants or respondents generally or an individual complainant or respondent;
  5. Presume that the respondent is not responsible for the conduct until a determination of responsibility is made at the conclusion of the grievance process;
  6. Follow stated timelines unless the district temporarily delays the grievance process for good cause (including, but not limited to, the absence of a party, a party's advisor, or a witness; concurrent law enforcement activity; or the need for language assistance or accommodation of a disability) and notify the parties in writing of the reason for a delay, if any; and
  7. Not require, allow, rely upon or otherwise use questions or evidence that constitutes, or
    seeks disclosure of, information protected under a legally recognized privilege unless the person holding such privilege has waived the privilege.

Webster Groves School District’s Grievance Process—How to report or file a formal complaint:

When the Title IX coordinator has actual knowledge of an allegation of sexual harassment under Title IX in an education program or activity of the district, the Title IX coordinator will promptly contact the complainant and:

  1. Provide information about the supportive measures available to the complainant and inform the complainant that he or she may receive supportive measures without filing a formal complaint.
  2. Consider the complainant's wishes with respect to supportive measures and implement appropriate supportive measures.
  3. Explain to the complainant the process for filing a formal complaint.
  4. Provide complainant with a formal complaint document.

Title IX Formal Complaint