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Silver Falls School District

Together We Thrive

Public Complaint Process

Public Complaint Process

Silver Falls School District 4J wants to hear from you. If you have a concern about our schools, our staff, or our programs, we have a process for resolving it, and we will respond within set timelines.

This process is available to:

  • Parents and guardians of students who attend school in the district
  • Students
  • District employees
  • Anyone who lives in the district
  • Anyone who believes they have been subjected to discrimination, or a third party acting on their behalf

 

This complaint procedure is also available in print at the district administrative office: 612 Schlador Street, Silverton, OR 97381, or by calling 503-873-5303.

If a student is in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected child abuse, call the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (1-855-503-7233). Do not wait for the complaint process.

Start here: talk with us first

Most concerns are resolved fastest by talking directly with the person closest to the situation. If you have a concern, please start by discussing it with the employee involved. If that does not resolve it, the district's recommended order of contact is:

  1. Teacher or employee
  2. Principal or supervisor
  3. Superintendent or designee
  4. Board of Directors

If talking it through does not resolve the concern, you can file a formal written complaint using the three-step process below.

  • You may use the district Complaint Form (PDF) or simply put your complaint in writing. A form is available but is not required.

     

    Step

    File with

    Your deadline to file

    District's deadline to respond

    Step 1

    The administrator or supervisor (usually your school principal)

    Within 5 working days of the employee's response

    Decision within 5 working days of receiving the complaint

    Step 2

    The superintendent or designee

    Within 10 working days of the written response from Step 1

    Written or electronic report of findings and conclusion within 10 working days of receiving the written complaint

    Step 3

     

    The Board of Directors

    Within 5 working days of receiving the superintendent's decision

    Written or electronic decision within 30 days of the Board receiving the appeal

     

    What to include in your written complaint: your name and contact information, the student's name if you are filing on their behalf, a clear description of the concern, who we should talk to and what evidence we should consider, and your suggested resolution. Please sign and date it.

     

    Step 1 detail. File a written, signed complaint with the administrator or supervisor. They will evaluate it and issue a decision.

     

    Step 2 detail. File a written, signed complaint with the superintendent or designee that clearly states the nature of the complaint and a suggested remedy. The superintendent or designee will investigate, confer with you and the other parties involved, and provide a written report of findings and conclusion. The superintendent's decision on all personnel matters is final. For complaints originating from the athletic department, the high school principal serves as the superintendent's designee.

     

    Step 3 detail. If you are dissatisfied with the Step 2 findings, you may appeal to the Board. The Board will review the superintendent's findings and conclusion in a public meeting to decide what action is appropriate, and may hold a hearing, request more information, or adopt the superintendent's decision as the district's final decision. The Board may use executive session where Oregon law allows. If the Board chooses not to hear the complaint, the superintendent's Step 2 decision is final. The Board's decision will address each allegation and give the reasons for the district's decision, and the Board's decision is final.

     

    Overall timeline. No single step will exceed 30 days, and the full process will not exceed 90 days from the date you first file, unless you and the district agree in writing to a longer period. Any timeline may be extended by written agreement between you and the district.

     

    Mediation. The district may offer mediation or another alternative dispute resolution process if all parties agree in writing to participate.

  • If your complaint is about...

    File it with

    What happens

    A district employee (other than the superintendent)

    The administration, starting at Step 1

    Investigated by the administration; the superintendent makes the final decision. The Board does not hear complaints against employees.

    A principal

    The superintendent

    The superintendent will attempt to resolve it. If it is unresolved after 10 working days, you may request that it be placed on the agenda of the next regular or special Board meeting. The Board issues a final written decision within 30 days of that request.

    The superintendent

    The Board chair, on behalf of the Board

    The chair presents it to the Board. The Board may refer an investigation to a third party, then decides in open session what action is warranted. Final written decision within 30 days of receipt.

     

    The Board as a whole, or an individual Board member

    The Board chair, on behalf of the Board

    Same process as above. Final written decision within 30 days of receipt.

    The Board chair

    The Board vice chair, on behalf of the Board

    Same process as above. Final written decision within 30 days of receipt.

     

    Retaliation against a student who reported a suspected violation of law in good faith

     

    The superintendent

    Reported to and addressed by the superintendent. Appealable to ODE (see below).

  • Some types of complaints have their own board policy and procedure. If your concern is one of these, please use the process linked below instead. All district policies are in the SFSD Online Policy Manual. 

    Type of concern

    Policy code

    Where to find it

    Discrimination or harassment on a basis protected by law

    AC, AC-AR

    Nondiscrimination Policy page · Policy Section A/B

    Bias incidents or display of symbols of hate

    ACB, ACB-AR

    Policy Section A/B

    Disability access and ADA grievances

    ACA, ACA-AR

    Accessibility page · Policy Section A/B

    Sexual harassment (staff)

    GBN/JBA, GBN/JBA-AR

    Policy Section G

    Sexual harassment (student)

    JBA/GBN, JBA/GBN-AR

    Policy Section J

    Workplace harassment

    GBEA, GBEA-AR

    Policy Section G

    Hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying, menacing or cyberbullying (staff)

    GBNA, GBNA-AR

    Policy Section G

    Hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying, menacing, cyberbullying, or teen dating violence (student)

    JFCF, JFCF-AR

    Policy Section J

    Sexual conduct with a student (staff)

    GBNAA/JHFF, GBNAA/JHFF-AR

    Policy Section G

    Sexual conduct with a student (student)

    JHFF/GBNAA, JHFF/GBNAA-AR

    Policy Section J

    Instructional resources or instructional materials

    IIA, IIA-AR

    Policy Section I

    Talented and Gifted (TAG) program

    IGBBC, IGBBC-AR

    Policy Section I

  • ilver Falls School District 4J does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity in its programs and activities.

     

    If you believe you or a student has been subjected to discrimination, you may file a complaint using the process on this page, or contact our Civil Rights Coordinator directly. You do not have to file with the district before contacting the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

     

    Title IX and Civil Rights Coordinator

    Vicky Storey, Assistant Superintendent

    Silver Falls School District 4J

    612 Schlador Street, Silverton, OR 97381

    storey_vicky@silverfalls.k12.or.us

    503-873-5303

     

    Full notice of nondiscrimination: Nondiscrimination Policy (AC)

     

    Oregon Department of Education, Civil Rights: ODE.CivilRightsSupport@ode.oregon.gov · Oregon Civil Rights Laws

     

    U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: How to file a complaint with OCR · Electronic complaint form · OCR@ed.gov · 800-421-3481

    Oregon is served by the OCR Seattle Office: 915 Second Avenue, Room 3310, Seattle, WA 98174-1099 · 206-607-1600 · OCR.Seattle@ed.gov

  • If your complaint alleges a violation of the Division 22 standards (OAR Chapter 581, Division 22), ORS 339.285 to 339.303 or OAR 581-021-0550 to 581-021-0570 (restraint and seclusion), discrimination under ORS 659.850, or retaliation under ORS 659.852, and it is not resolved through the district process, you may appeal the district's final decision to the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction.

     

    You may appeal if any of the following is true:

     

    1. You have exhausted the district's complaint procedures, except as otherwise allowed by statute.
    2. The district failed to issue a written decision within 30 days of your submission at any step, unless you agreed in writing to a longer period for that step.
    3. The district failed to resolve your complaint within 90 days of your initial filing, regardless of the number of steps, unless you agreed in writing to a longer period.

     

    When to appeal: no later than one year after the date of the district's final decision, or, if the district failed to resolve the complaint, no later than two years after the date you first filed with the district.

     

    How to appeal: in writing, submitted in person, by mail, or electronically. Your appeal must include your name; your phone number, address, or email address if available; the student's name if you are filing on their behalf; a statement of the facts your appeal is based on; and any other information ODE requests.

     

    What happens next: ODE decides whether your appeal meets the rule requirements and notifies both you and the district in writing. If accepted, the district must submit a written response and all requested records within 30 days. ODE then investigates and issues a final order.

     

    File an appeal with ODE: ODE Complaints and Appeals

     

    About the Division 22 standards: Division 22 Standards and Assurance of Compliance

     

    Full details: KL-AR(2) Appeal to the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction (PDF)

  • You must file your complaint by the later of these two dates:

    1. Two years after the alleged violation or unlawful incident occurred, or after you discovered it. For incidents that are continuing in nature, the two years runs from the most recent incident.
    2. One year after the affected student graduated from, moved away from, or otherwise left the district.

  • Contact

    Role in this process

    How to reach them

    Your school's principal

    Step 1 decision-maker

    School directory and phone numbers

    Kim Kellison, Superintendent

    Step 2 decision-maker; administers the complaint process

    kellison_kim@silverfalls.k12.or.us · 503-873-5303 · 612 Schlador Street, Silverton, OR 97381

    Philip Wiesner, Board Chair

    Receives complaints about the superintendent, the Board, or an individual Board member

    wiesner_phil@silverfalls.k12.or.us · school-board@silverfalls.k12.or.us · 503-873-5303

    Derrick Foxworth, Board Vice Chair

    Receives complaints about the Board chair

    foxworth_derrick@silverfalls.k12.or.us · school-board@silverfalls.k12.or.us · 503-873-5303

    Vicky Storey, Title IX and Civil Rights Coordinator

    Oversees discrimination complaints

    storey_vicky@silverfalls.k12.or.us · 503-873-5303

    Debbie Valoff, Board Secretary

    Official copies of policies and administrative regulations

    valoff_debbie@silverfalls.k12.or.us · 503-873-5303

    District Office

    General questions about this process

    612 Schlador Street, Silverton, OR 97381 · 503-873-5303 · Fax 503-873-2936

  • This page can be translated into more than 100 languages using the translation tool in the top navigation of our website. Written translations of the complaint form and this procedure are available on request.

    If you need interpretation or translation services, help putting your complaint in writing, or a disability-related accommodation to use this process, contact the district office at 503-873-5303 or communications@silverfalls.k12.or.us. These services are free of charge.

    See also our Accessibility page.