In keeping with federal and state anti-discrimination legislation and district policy, the Board has adopted and hereby publishes the following Grievance Procedure for the resolution of employee, student, and parent complaints alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or hostile work environment based on a protected characteristic. The Affirmative Action Officer (AAO) has the responsibility to coordinate and implement the district’s efforts to comply with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) and to promote a working and learning environment free of unlawful discrimination

Purpose: To provide students, employees, and parents with a procedure by which they may seek a remedy for alleged violations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or hostile work environment based on race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy), familial status, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for military service, mental or physical disability, perceived disability, and AIDS or HIV status, in accordance with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD).

District Affirmative Action Officer:

Ms. Joanna Elia
[email protected]
973-773-9140 Ext. 11515

Definitions:

Grievance: A formal complaint submitted verbally or in writing alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or hostile work environment based upon a protected characteristic.

Grievant / Complainant: Any student, employee, parent, applicant, or other individual who believes they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or hostile work environment.

Respondent: Individual against whom the allegation is made.

Affirmative Action Officer (AAO): The district employee designated to coordinate compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws and responsible for investigating complaints that involve protected classes.

Protected Characteristic: A characteristic protected under federal or New Jersey law, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military service, genetic information, and other legally protected classifications.

Hostile Work Environment: A form of unlawful harassment in which unwelcome conduct based on a protected characteristic is sufficiently severe or pervasive to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment or unreasonably interfere with an individual’s employment.