TITLE IX
MNVA Title IX and Non-Discrimination Notice
Houston Public Schools Notice of Non-Discrimination
As required by Title IX, Houston Public School District, including Minnesota Virtual Academy, does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status, or veteran status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Krin Abraham, Superintendent
306 West Elm Street, Houston, MN
507.896.5323, opt 3
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit https://www.houston.k12.mn.us/page/3260 for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 800.421.3481.
Persons Responsible for Coordinating Title IX and Section 504/ADA Programming
District Title IX Coordinator
306 W Elm Street, Houston, MN 55943
507.896.5323, opt 3
Alternate Title IX Coordinator - MNVA K - 12
Angela Specketer
306 W Elm Street, Houston, MN 55943
507.896.5323, opt 4
District Section 504 Coordinator
Tina Barness
306 W Elm Street, Houston, MN 55943
507.896.5323, opt 3
Alternate Section 504 Coordinator—MNVA High School
Angela Specketer
306 W Elm Street, Houston, MN 55943
507.896.5323, opt 4
Alternate Section 504 Coordinator—MNVA Elementary
Ricky Smith
306 W Elm Street, Houston, MN 55943
507.896.5323, opt 3
Title IX Grievance Procedures
The following grievance procedure applies to claims of sex and disability discrimination:
A. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of unlawful discrimination or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute unlawful discrimination shall report the alleged acts immediately to an appropriate school district official designated by this policy. The complaint must be filed within 30 calendar days of the alleged violation.
B. The Human Rights Officer is responsible for receiving oral or written complaints of unlawful discrimination toward an employee or student. However, nothing in this policy shall prevent any person from reporting unlawful discrimination toward an employee or student directly with the Human Rights Officer, the school board or other school district official.
C. While the school board has designated the Human Rights Officer to receive complaints of unlawful discrimination, if the complaint involves the Human Rights Officer, the complaint shall be made to the school district's appointed ADA/Section 504 coordinator, who shall immediately notify the school board.
D. The Human Rights Officer may request but not insist upon a written complaint. Alternative means of filing a complaint, such as through a personal interview or by tape recording, shall be made available upon request for qualified persons with a disability. If the complaint is oral, it shall be reduced to writing within 24 hours and forwarded to the superintendent. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. The school district encourages the reporting party to complete the complaint form for written complaints. It is available from the principal of each building or the school district office.
E. The school district shall respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses, consistent with the school district’s legal obligations to investigate, take appropriate action, and comply with any discovery or disclosure obligations.
A Title IX grievant may submit a complaint form here.
INVESTIGATION
A. The Human Rights Officer, upon receipt of a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination shall promptly undertake an investigation if deemed appropriate. The investigation may be conducted by the Title IX coordinator for complaints of sex discrimination or the Section 504 Coordinator for complaints of disability discrimination, or a school district official or neutral third party designated by the Title IX coordinator, Section 504 coordinator or Human Rights Officer. The investigation shall be completed within 30 days of the complaint, unless impracticable.
B. The investigation may consist of personal interviews with the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and others who may have knowledge of the alleged incident(s) or circumstances giving rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of other methods deemed pertinent by the investigator.
C. In determining whether the alleged conduct constitutes a violation of this policy, the school district shall consider the facts and the surrounding circumstances such as the nature of the behavior, past incidents or continuing patterns of behavior, the relationships between the parties involved and the context in which the alleged incident occurred.
D. The school district may take immediate steps to protect the parties involved in the complaint process, pending completion of an investigation of alleged unlawful discrimination.
E. Upon completion of the investigation, the school district investigator shall make a written report to the Human Rights Officer. If the complaint involves the Human Rights Officer, the report may be filed directly with the school board chair. The report shall include the facts, a determination of whether the allegations have been substantiated, whether a violation of this policy has occurred as well as a description of any proposed resolution which may include alternative dispute resolution.
F. The district shall comply with federal and state law pertaining to retention of records.
APPEAL
If the grievance has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, s/he may appeal to the Human Rights Officer within ten (10) school days of receipt of the findings of the school district investigation. The school district investigator shall conduct a review of the appeal and within ten (10) school days of receipt of the appeal, shall affirm, reverse, or modify the findings of the report. The decision of the school district investigator is final but does not preclude pursuit of alternative complaint procedures noted in the section entitled “Right to Alternative Compliant Procedures.”
SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION
A. Upon conclusion of the investigation and receipt of the findings, the school district shall take appropriate action. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, such action may include, but is not limited to, warning, suspension, expulsion, transfer, remediation or termination. School district action taken for violation of this policy shall be consistent with the requirements of applicable collective bargaining agreements, Minnesota and federal law and school district policies.
B. The result of the school district’s investigation of each complaint filed under these procedures shall be reported in writing to the complainant by the school district in accordance with state and federal law regarding data or records privacy.
RETALIATION
The school district shall take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel who retaliates against any person who reports alleged unlawful discrimination toward an employee or student or any person who testifies, assists or participates in an investigation or hearing relating to such unlawful discrimination. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation or harassment.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
If there is a conflict of interest with respect to any party affected by this policy, appropriate action shall be taken such as, but not limited to, appointing or contracting with a neutral third party investigator to conduct the investigation or recusal from the process by the person for whom a conflict or potential conflict of interest exists.
DISSEMINATION OF POLICY
The school district shall adopt and publish these procedures.
RIGHT TO ALTERNATIVE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
These procedures do not deny the right of any individual to pursue other avenues of recourse, which may include filing charges with the agencies listed below or initiating action in state or federal court. Claims of discrimination may also be pursued through the following agencies where appropriate:
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights, Region V500
W. Madison Street –Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661
312.730.1560
TDD: 312.730.1609
MN Department of Human Rights
190 E 5th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
800.657.3704
651.296.5663
TDD 651.296.1283
This document provides general information and is not to be a substitute for legal advice. Changes in the law, including timelines for filing a complaint, may affect your rights.
Legal References:
- Minn. Stat. Ch. 363A (Minnesota Human Rights Act)
- 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. (Age Discrimination in Employment Act)
- 29 U.S.C. § 2615 (Family and Medical Leave Act)
- 38 U.S.C. § 4211 et seq. (Employment and Training of Veterans)
- 38 U.S.C. § 4301 et seq. (Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services)
- 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act)
- 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (Equal Opportunity for Individuals with Disabilities)
- 34 C.F.R. Section 104.7(b) (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act)
- 34 C.F.R. Section 106.8(b) (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)
Cross References:
- MSBA/MASA Model Policy 402 (Disability Nondiscrimination)
- MSBA/MASA Model Policy 405 (Veteran’s Preference)
- MSBA/MASA Model Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence)
