IFBE Head Start Internal Dispute Resolution

IFBE 

Head Start Internal Dispute Resolution 

In matters concerning a decision on hiring/firing a Head Start Director, requests for refunding of next year’s Head Start Program, or major changes in budget and/or work plans while the Head Start Program is in  operations: if the decision of the Board of Education does not concur with Head Start Policy Council recommendation and the Director of the program believes the Policy Council probably will not concur with  Board Decision, the Board will implement the following process:  

Procedures 

Within one day, the Board of Education will notify the Policy Council in writing of the decision and the Board’s reason for the decision. 

On or before the tenth (10th) day, the Head Start Policy Council will hold a meeting to consider the Board’s decision or action, then responding to the Board in writing of Policy Council’s approval or disapproval of Board  decision. If Policy Council disapproves, the written notification will include a statement of reasons. 

On or before the fourteenth (14th) day, a joint meeting will be held. Attendees at this meeting will be two  representatives from the Board, two representatives from the Policy Council and a fifth representative designated by the ACYF (Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Region VII Head Start Office. It this meeting fails to produce an agreement, the Board will respond within five (5) working days on its intend to  submit the impasse for arbitration. The Board and Policy Council shall each have previously selected on arbitrator so help resolve such situations, and together they shall have generated a list of 3-5 mutually acceptable arbitrators. The Board’s arbitrator and the Policy Council’s arbitrator shall select a third arbitrator  from the list of mutually acceptable candidates, on the three of them shall schedule a hearing within five (5) days. 

On or before the 24th day, the Arbitration Panel of three meets and hears oral presentations by one representative of each of the Board and the Policy Council, asks questions and reviews materials concerning the impasse. 

On or before the 29th day, the Panel will issue its decision in writing to the Board and the Policy Council, and the decision is final. 

If agreed upon by both parties, more time may be granted to extend any part of this process at any point.

Adoption Date: 11/09/1998, Revised: 06/08/2009