Descriptor Code: KN
Concerns, Complaints and Grievances
The Cherokee County Board of Education believes that individuals should be provided with appropriate and expedient means to address and resolve concerns that may arise in a professional and consistent way. On occasion, a parent may have a concern, complaint, suggestion or request related to a school matter. Many questions are easily and completely answered by communicating directly with the educator in charge of the class or program.
Concerns, complaints and grievances are best handled and resolved as close to their origin as possible. Therefore, the school district will establish clear protocols for reviewing and addressing concerns, complaints, and grievances as they arise. The protocol for specific matters, Communication Protocol: Issue and Point of Contacts, is attached to the policy as a document link.
Any complaint related to school personnel will be referred through proper administrative channels. For any matter in which further review is required, after exhausting all levels of review set forth in the Communication Protocol, the individual may elect to file a Formal KN Complaint through the guidelines established by the Superintendent of Schools.
Constituents who contact Board Members with a concern, complaint, or grievance will be referred to the Superintendent.
ADOPTED: August 2, 2001 REVISED: July 23, 2026
Administrative Guidelines Regarding Complaints – KN Policy
Pursuant to the Cherokee County Board of Education (the “Board”) Policy KN, Complaints, the Board hereby adopts the following complaint procedures for handling complaints made by parents/guardians and community members within the Cherokee County School District (the “School District”).
The School District is not required to investigate vague, speculative, unsupported, or facially insufficient allegations that do not reasonably identify conduct or permit a meaningful response. Where appropriate, the School District will provide 3 days for an amendment or supplemental documentation/information prior to the dismissal. All decisions related to dismissals will be made by the Executive Director of Legal Compliance with written notification to both the complainant and appropriate level administrator. If the matter is dismissed for any of the above reference reasons, the decision is final.
I. GENERAL STEPS TO ADDRESS KN COMPLAINTS
A. Prior to filing a Formal KN Compliant, the individual must exhaust the appropriate channel for concerns, complaints and grievances.
B. As part of the review of complaints, the Third Level review will provide a written decision to the individual who has reported a concern, complaint or grievance.
C. Once the person who has reported the concern, complaint or grievance has been provided with a written decision at the Third Level, an appeal of the decision may be filed with the Superintendent of Schools. The Superintendent will designate the appropriate person with subject matter knowledge to formally evaluate, review and recommend an appeal decision to the Superintendent within fifteen (15) business days. A written decision will be issued by the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s Designee.
D. The Superintendent or Superintendent’s Designee decision is final.
II. RECORDS
A. At each level of the process, the administrator or personnel who makes any written decisions will retain a copy, either hard copy or electronic.
B. In the case of additional review, a copy of all evidence and written decisions will be furnished to the next administrator in the process outlined within the Communication Protocol.
C. Records, including any information or documented during the KN process shall be maintained in accordance with:
