Complaints

Notice of Student Nondiscrimination/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Davis Joint Unified School District is committed to making the schools free from unlawful discrimination and providing equal opportunities for all individuals in education. The District prohibits discriminatory practices whose purpose or effect has a negative impact on the student’s academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment. The District promotes programs that ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. Any student who engages in discrimination of another student or anyone from the district may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

Any employee who permits or engages in discrimination may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. A student or parent/guardian who believes that discrimination has occurred may contact the principal for immediate resolution at the site. A student or parent/guardian is not required to attempt resolution through the school site before contacting the District Title IX Coordinator.

What is a complaint?

Generally, a complaint is an oral or written statement alleging a violation of federal or state laws or regulations, which may include an allegation of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying. A complaint can be pursued by following the complaint procedures listed below. If the complainant is unable to put the complaint in writing, due to conditions such as a disability or illiteracy, District staff shall assist the complainant in the writing of the complaint.

Questions? Please call the Student Support Services at (530) 757-5300 ext. 140

GENERAL COMPLAINT

Any staff member, parent, student, community member or applicant who has a complaint regarding an employee, a district policy, or other condition of the Davis Joint Unified School District may submit the complaint by completing the COMPLAINT FORM [English] [Spanish] and filing it with the school principal or appropriate District administrator. 

If your complaint alleges an issue of discrimination or failure to comply with certain specified state or federal laws, please use the Federal/State Uniform Complaint Form instead of this form.

Informal Complaint

We encourage you to talk to the school employee directly involved in the situation that is causing your complaint.

Here’s an example:

1.If your complaint is about something that happened in a classroom or the school site, talk to the teacher. If the teacher does not resolve your complaint, talk to the school principal.

2.If your complaint is about a principal or a district problem, call the District Office at: 530-757-5300. Talk to the office in charge of what you are complaining about:

Business Services:  ext. 122
Human Resources: ext. 105
Instructional Services/Curriculum: ext. 144
Special Education: ext. 113
Student Support Services (health, behavior, counseling, discipline):  ext. 140

If talking to the school/district employee in charge does not resolve your complaint, you can make a formal, written complaint.

Formal Written Complaint

Follow these steps:

1. Fill out the Complaint Form and give it to your school principal (for a school site problem) or a district administrator (for a complaint about a principal or a district  administrator)

2. Within 5 business days, the principal or district administrator will contact you to let you know what the next steps will be.  

3. If your complaint is about an employee, we are required to tell that employee about the complaint within 3 business days

4 .The District wants to resolve complaints through restorative measures and mediation whenever possible.  If you agree to mediation, the school principal/district administrator will work with you to expedite the process.

5.  If you decline mediation or mediation is unsuccessful, the principal, district administrator, or designee will investigate your complaint.  (This is called Findings of Facts)

Within
30 business days, you will get a letter called an Administrative Response/Actions. This explains what we learned about the problem and how we will respond. (We cannot share detailed information that violates student or personnel privacy rights.)

6.
If you disagree with our response, you may ask for an appeal within 10 business days.  Include in your appeal, a copy of your original Complaint Form, the principal’s or District’s Response, and a summary of why you believe the Response does not resolve the complaint.  Send your appeal to the Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services.  The Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services will conduct a Findings of Fact and will send you a response within 30 business days.

If you still disagree with our
Response, within 30 business days you may ask to speak to the School Board. The Board may agree to let you speak and present your evidence, or they may decide not to hear your complaint and the previous response stands as final. 
TITLE IX COMPLAINT (discrimination/harassment based on sex)
Davis Joint Unified School District is committed to making the schools free from sexual harassment and discrimination. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments of the Civil Rights Act of 1972 and is prohibited by both federal and state laws. The District prohibits sexual harassment of students by other students, employees or other persons, at school or at school-sponsored or school-related activities. Sexual harassment is defined in Education Code to mean unwelcome sexual advances; requests for sexual favors; or verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, made by someone from or in the educational setting. The superintendent or his/her designee shall ensure that district students receive age-appropriate instruction about their rights to be free from sexual harassment, the district procedure for reporting and investigating complaints of sexual harassment including with whom a complaint should be filed.

For complete information about the district's Title IX complaint procedures and how to file a complaint, visit the Title IX webpage.

District Title IX Coordinator is:

Director of Student Support Services, Cara Messmore
Davis Joint Unified School District
526 B Street
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 757-5300 ext. 140
FAX: 530-757-5323
 [email protected]

UNIFORM COMPLAINT
Filing a Uniform Complaint 

Pursuant to Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 1312.3 a Uniform Complaint can be made by any staff member, parent, student, community member or applicant alleging unlawful discrimination/harassment/intimidation/bullying against any student, employee, or other person participating in district programs and activities based on the person’s actual or perceived characteristics of race or ethnicity, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or any other characteristic identified in Education Code 200 or 220, Government Code 11135, or Penal Code 422.55, or based on his/her association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.  

After completing the UNIFORM COMPLAINT FORM [English] [Spanish], return to: 

Director Student Support Services, Cara Messmore
Uniform Complaint Compliance Officer
Davis Joint Unified School District
526 B Street
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 757-5300 ext. 140
FAX: 530-757-5323
[email protected]


A Uniform Complaint is also used if the complaint alleges the District failed to comply with state or federal law or regulations governing the following programs and activities: 

  • Accommodations for Pregnant and Parenting Pupils
  • Adult Education
  • After School Education and Safety
  • Agricultural Career Technical Education
  • Career Technical and Technical Education, Career Technical, Technical Training (state)
  • Career Technical Education (federal)
  • Child Care and Development
  • Compensatory Education
  • Course Periods without Educational Content
  • Education of Pupils in Foster Care, Pupils who are Homeless, former Juvenile Court Pupils now enrolled in a school district and Children of Military Families
  • Every Student Succeeds Act
  • Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP)
  • Migrant Education
  • Physical Education Instructional Minutes
  • Pupil Fees
  • Reasonable Accommodations to a Lactating Pupil
  • Regional Occupational Centers and Programs
  • School Plans for Student Achievement
  • School Safety Plans
  • School Site Councils
  • State Preschool
  • State Preschool Health and Safety Issues in LEA's Exempt from Licensing

Step 1: Filing of Complaint

Any individual, public agency or organization may file a written complaint of alleged noncompliance by the District. Complaints alleging unlawful discrimination may be filed by a person who alleges that he/she personally suffered unlawful discrimination or by a person who believes that an individual or any specific class of individuals has been subjected to unlawful discrimination. The complaint must be started no later than six (6) months from the date when the alleged discrimination occurred or when the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination. The complaint shall be given to the Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services who will maintain a log of complaints received, providing each with a date stamp and will determine who will investigate the complaint. If the complainant is unable to put a complaint in writing due to conditions such as illiteracy or other disabilities, district staff shall help him/her to file the complaint. The use of mediation shall not extend the District’s timelines for investigating and resolving the complaint unless the complainant agrees in writing to such an extension of time.

Step 2: Informal Resolution

The District encourages the early, informal resolution of complaints at the site/district level when appropriate and whenever possible.  This includes talking directly to the school employee involved in the situation that is causing the complaint.

Step 3: Investigation

Within three (3) business days of receiving the complaint, the compliance officer may informally discuss with the complainant the possibility of using mediation.  If the complainant agrees to mediation, the compliance officer shall make all arrangements for this process.  Before initiating the mediation of a discrimination complaint, the compliance officer shall ensure that all parties agree to make the mediator a party to related confidential information.  If the mediation process does not resolve the problem within the parameters of law, or if the complainant does not want mediation, the compliance officer shall proceed with his/her investigation of the complaint. Within ten (10) business days of receiving the complaint or within five (5) business days of an unsuccessful attempt to mediate the complaint, the compliance officer shall begin the investigation.   The complainant and/or his/her representative shall have an opportunity to present evidence, or information leading to evidence, to support the allegations. 

Step 4: Response

Within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the complaint, the compliance officer shall prepare and send to the complainant and respondent a written report of the District’s investigation and decision and the process for appeal.

The report of the District’s decision by the compliance officer shall be written in English and in the language of the complainant whenever feasible or as required by law. The decision shall include:

  1. The findings of fact based on the evidence gathered, the disposition of the complaint, and corrective actions taken. If an employee is disciplined as a result of the complaint, the report shall state that effective action was taken and that the employee was informed of district expectations.The report shall not give specific information as to the nature of the disciplinary action.

  2. The rationale for the above disposition and conclusions of law.

  3. Notice of the complainant’s right to appeal the compliance officer’s decision within ten (10) days to the Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services.

Step 5: Appeal

If the complainant or respondent is dissatisfied with the compliance officer’s decision, they may, within ten (10) business days, APPEAL the complaint in writing to the Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services.  The appeal shall include the specific facts of the complaint and the reasons that cause the complainant or respondent to feel that the administrative response is unsatisfactory. The appeal shall also identify what specific district actions would provide a remedy to the complaint.  The Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services will conduct a Findings of Fact and will send a response within thirty (30) business days.  If the appellant still disagrees with the response, they may within thirty (30) business days ask to speak to the Board of Education.  The Board may agree to hear the complaint or they may decide not to hear the complaint, and the previous response stands as final.

Appeals to the California Department of Education

If dissatisfied with the District’s decision, or if the Board decides not to hear the appeal of the compliance officer’s decision, the complainant may appeal in writing to the CDE within fifteen (15) calendar days of receiving the District’s decision.  When appealing to the CDE, the complainant must specify the basis for the appeal of the decision and whether the facts are incorrect and/or the law has been misapplied.  The appeal must be accompanied by a copy of the locally filed complaint and a copy of the District’s decision. 


WILLIAMS COMPLAINT
Filing a Williams Uniform Complaint 

Pursuant to Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 1312.4, Williams Complaint can be made by any staff member, parent, student, community member or applicant who has a complaint concerning deficiencies related to instructional materials, conditions of facilities that are not maintained in a clean or safe manner or in good repair, or teacher vacancy or misassignments.

Williams complaints can be filed by completing the WILLIAMS COMPLAINT FORM [English] [Spanish] and returning it to the school administrator or designee.

For details of the complaint process, refer to the second page of the complaint form.


STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES COMPLAINT

Filing a Student Nutrition Services Complaint 

Any staff member, parent, student, community member or applicant who has a complaint concerning discrimination stemming from the USDA Student Nutrition Lunch Program may submit, USDA COMPLAINT FORM [English][Spanish] to: 

Director of Student Nutrition Services
Mark Powell
USDA Complaint Compliance Officer
Davis Joint Unified School District
1919 5th Street
Davis, CA 95616
[email protected]

For details of the complaint process, see the second page of the complaint form.

PRESCHOOL WILLIAMS UNIFORM COMPLAINT

Pursuant to Education Code 8235.5, any California State Preschool Program that is exempt from licensure must have:

 1. Outdoor shade that is safe and in good repair

2. Drinking water that is accessible and readily available throughout the day

3. Safe and sanitary restroom facilities with one toilet and handwashing fixture for every 15 children

4. Restroom facilities that are available only for preschoolers and kindergartners

5. Visual supervision of children at all times

6. Indoor and outdoor space that is properly contained or fenced and provides sufficient space for the number of children using the space at any given time

7. Playground equipment that is safe, in good repair, and age appropriate

Complaints can be made by completing the PRESCHOOL WILLIAMS UNIFORM COMPLAINT FORM [English] [Spanish] and returning it to the preschool administrator or designee.  You may also download a copy of the California Department of Education complaint form.