Roanoke City Public Schools

Roanoke City Public Schools Non-Discrimination Statement

Roanoke City Public Schools (“RCPS”) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, pregnancy, or marital status in its programs and activities, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Students who have questions or concerns regarding compliance with the School Division's nondiscrimination policy JB (including protection under IDEA, ADA, Section 504 and Title IX) should contact:

Dr. Hayley Poland
Assistant Superintendent of Student Success & Support Services
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-1393

Section 504:   
Hayley Poland
Dr. Hayley Poland
Assistant Superintendent of Student Success & Support Services
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-1393

Alternate Compliance Officer:
Dr. Jesse Mazur
Executive Director of Alternative Programs, Student Accountability, and Special Projects
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-1749

Employees who have questions or concerns regarding compliance with the School Division's nondiscrimination policy GB (including protection under the Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) Act, ADA, Section 504 and Title IX) should contact:

Dominick McKee
Director of Human Resources
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-2502

Alternate Compliance Officer:
Chris Perkins
Chief Operations Officer
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011 
(540) 853-2382

Roanoke City Public Schools Title IX Statement

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C.§§ 1691 et seq., prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities receiving federal funds, including discrimination in employment and student admissions. All Roanoke City Public Schools students, applicants and employees are covered by this law. 

Training provided to staff regarding Title IX are available below:

• Title IX Best Practices
• Title IX Coordinator Training

For questions or concerns regarding Title IX, please contact the Compliance Officers:

Students:
Dr. Hayley Poland
Assistant Superintendent of Student Success & Support Services
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-1393

Alternate Compliance Officer: 
Dr. Jesse Mazur
Executive Director of Alternative Programs, Student Accountability, and Special Projects
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-1749

Employees:
Dominick McKee
Director of Human Resources
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-2502  

Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act Grievance Procedure

Persons who believe that the school division has discriminated against someone on the basis of disability and thus violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can file a written grievance with the school division’s Section 504 Coordinator. Once a written grievance is received, the school division will investigate the allegations contained in the written grievance in an effort to reach a prompt and equitable resolution.

A grievance must meet the following requirements:

The grievance must be in writing. At a minimum, it must contain (1) the nature of the grievance; (2) the facts upon which the grievance is based, including a list of all witnesses; (3) the remedy requested; and (4) the complainant’s signature and the date the grievance is filed.

The written grievance must be filed with the school division’s Section 504 Coordinator (“coordinator”), Hayley Poland, at the following address:

Dr. Hayley Poland
Assistant Superintendent of Student Success & Support Services
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-1393  

The grievance should be reported as soon as possible, but not later than thirty (30) school days after the occurrence. This time frame may be lengthened for extraordinary circumstances.

The complainant must have the opportunity to present verbal and written evidence.

The coordinator or designee will independently investigate the allegations to determine whether the school division is in compliance with Section 504 and the ADA. The coordinator or designee will provide a written report of the investigation to the complainant within thirty (30) school days of receipt of the complaint. The report should include the following information:

(1) A statement of the complainant’s allegations and the remedy sought;
(2) A statement of facts as contended by each party;
(3) A narrative describing attempts to resolve the grievance;
(4) A list of the witnesses interviewed and the documents reviewed during the investigation;
(5) A statement of facts as determined by the coordinator or designee with reference to the evidence to support each fact;
(6) The coordinator or designee’s conclusion as to whether the allegations are valid; and
(7) If the coordinator or designee does determine that the allegations are valid, the report should include any corrective action determined by the coordinator or designee.

An extension of the thirty (30) school day time limit for submitting the written report may occur if necessary as determined by the coordinator or designee. The complainant will be notified in writing of the extended time limit.

The complainant shall have an opportunity to make a written appeal to the school division’s superintendent within ten (10) school days of receiving the coordinator’s report. Following an appeal, the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee will review the complainant’s appeal along with the coordinator’s report and then respond in writing to the complainant within thirty (30) school days of receiving the appeal. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall either confirm or disapprove the coordinator or designee’s decision.

An extension of the thirty (30) school day time limit may occur if necessary as determined by the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee. The complainant will be notified in writing of the extended time limit.

Retaliation against a complainant or anyone who reports discrimination or participates in a grievance investigation is prohibited. If this occurs, the individual may file a complaint with the school division.

If assistance is needed, please contact the school division’s Section 504 Coordinator at:

Dr. Hayley Poland
Assistant Superintendent of Student Success & Support Services
Roanoke City Public Schools
201 Campbell Ave. SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-1393  

The full version of policies related to discrimination or harassment can be found in the School Board Policy Manual available in the School Libraries and on the Division website at rcps.info. Reference Policies GB, GBA, JB, JBA, and JFHA. Complaint forms are found in the Policy Manual JFHA-F (students) and GBA-F (employees).

Additional References: Student Code of Conduct, Reporting Harassment Procedures
Division Employee Handbook

Grievance Procedure for Sexual and Disability Harassment/Discrimination

This procedure is established to meet the requirements of Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of gender or disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by the School Board of the City of Roanoke (also referred to in this procedure as “School Board” or “Roanoke City Public Schools”). The School Board personnel policies govern employment-related complaints of sexual and disability discrimination.

Division compliance with Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is coordinated as follows:

Facilities (Access), Chief Operations Officer, Chris Perkins, (540) 853-2382

Employment/Personnel, Chief Human Resources Officer, Dominick McKee (540) 853-2502

Title IX/Student Programs or Activities Hayley Poland, Assistant Superintendent of Student Success & Support Services (540)853-1393 

Section 504, Hayley Poland, Assistant Superintendent of Student Success & Support Services (540) 853-1393 

The written grievance is sent to one of the compliance officers listed above at 40 Douglass Avenue, Roanoke VA 24012. Once a written grievance is received, the school division will investigate the allegations contained in the written grievance in an effort to reach a prompt and equitable resolution.

A grievance must meet the following requirements:

The grievance must be in writing. At a minimum, it must contain (1) the nature of the grievance; (2) the facts upon which the grievance is based, including a list of all witnesses; (3) the remedy requested; and (4) the complainant’s signature and the date the grievance is filed.

The grievance should be reported as soon as possible, but not later than thirty (30) school days after the occurrence. This time frame may be lengthened for extraordinary circumstances.

The complainant must have the opportunity to present verbal and written evidence.

The compliance officer, coordinator or designee will independently investigate the allegations to determine whether the school division is in compliance with Section 504 and the ADA. The compliance officer, coordinator or designee will provide a written report of the investigation to the complainant within thirty (30) school days of receipt of the complaint.

The report should include the following information:

(1) A statement of the complainant’s allegations and the remedy sought;
(2) A statement of facts as contended by each party;
(3) A narrative describing attempts to resolve the grievance;
(4) A list of the witnesses interviewed and the documents reviewed during the investigation;
(5) A statement of facts as determined by the coordinator or designee with reference to the evidence to support each fact;
(6)The coordinator or designee’s conclusion as to whether the allegations are valid; and
(7) If the coordinator or designee does determine that the allegations are valid, the report should include any corrective action determined by the coordinator or designee.

An extension of the thirty (30) school day time limit for submitting the written report may occur if necessary as determined by the compliance officer, coordinator or designee. The complainant will be notified in writing of the extended time limit.

The complainant shall have an opportunity to make a written appeal to the school division’s superintendent within ten (10) school days of receiving the compliance officer, coordinator or designee’s report. Following an appeal, the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee will review the complainant’s appeal along with the report and then respond in writing to the complainant within thirty (30) school days of receiving the appeal. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall either confirm or disapprove the compliance officer, coordinator or designee’s decision.

An extension of the thirty (30) school day time limit may occur if necessary as determined by the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee. The complainant will be notified in writing of the extended time limit.

Retaliation against a complainant or anyone who reports discrimination or participates in a grievance investigation is prohibited. If this occurs, the individual may file a complaint with the school division.

School Board Policy References: Policies GB, GBA, JB, JBA, and JFHA
Complaint Forms are found in the School Board Policy Manual JFHA-F (students) and GBA-F (employees)

Additional references: Student Code of Conduct (Reporting Harassment Procedures) and Division Employee Handbook