Dispute Resolution Road Map

Leading with Purpose & Compassion

Types of Disputes:

State Administrative Complaint, Due Process Hearing, OCR Complaint

Disability Rights Idaho, District grievance process, Informal complaints,...

Communicate

Gather Information

Care for Your Team

Notify Superintendent / Board of Trustees

Explain the process if this is a new situation for them

Read and understand the complaint

Ask clarifying questions

Who has knowledge of the situation?

Look at samples of a previous investigation of this type – clarify what to expect

Have an in-person meeting to share the complaint

Clarify what it is, and what it isn’t

Share employee assistance resources, if available.

Acknowledge the stress!

Consult legal counsel if directed

Notify insurance carrier, per district processes

Sensitively inform impacted buildings and teams

Develop an initial action plan

Were any corrections completed prior to the complaint?

Gather relevant information

Special Education Records

Communications

Other potential sources of documentation

Nursing records, Athletic directors, grade books, bus cameras, ....

Build a documentation system

Pre-meet with the team

Prepare witnesses and staff.

This is an investigation of the district, not individuals

Tell the truth!

Be in the area for moral support, even if you cannot be with staff during interviews

Send notes of encouragement

Partner with the dispute resolution coordinator or investigator

Gather and review all requested documents

Schedule interviews, both requested by investigator, and suggest others as appropriate

Add a narrative or timeline to give context

Share the outcomes with the team

Follow-up steps

Address concerns or corrections:

Celebrate and reinforce compliant processes and unfounded allegations

Reflect on what was learned to improve future practices

Training opportunities

Using IEP software to support compliance

Support the team in the first meeting with parents after the process concludes

Build a corrective action plan (CAP)

Use SESTA as a resource

Add progress monitoring to the CAP

Document corrections

Put notes in calendar to ensure timelines are met

"The quality of our lives depends not on whether or not we have conflicts, but on how we respond to them.

– Thomas Crum

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