A "grievance" is a claim by an employee or a group of employees in the unit or the Association based upon the interpretation, application, or violation of the Contractual Agreement, policies or administrative decisions affecting an employee or a group of employees. All grievances shall be initiated within fifteen (15) school days of the date of the occurrence of the action or decision on which the complaint is based. All grievances shall be initiated, in writing, at the level where the action or decision on which the complaint is based was made.
GRIEVANCE LEVEL ONE-PRINCIPAL/SUPERVISOR
If the grievance concerns an action or decision of the Principal and/or immediate Supervisor, the grievant or the Association shall submit the grievance in writing, and shall discuss it, either directly or through the Association's designated representative, with the Principal or immediate Supervisor. The Principal or immediate Supervisor shall have seven (7) school days after receipt of the written grievance to render a written decision.
LEVEL TWO - SUPERINTENDENT
If the grievance concerns an action or decision of the Superintendent or School Business Administrator or if no satisfactory decision or no decision was rendered at Level One or if the grievance affects a group or class of employees, the grievant or the Association shall submit the grievance, in writing, and discuss it with the Superintendent. Grievances that are appealed from Level One shall be submitted at Level Two within five (5) school days after receipt of the decision at Level One or twelve (12) school days after the grievance was submitted at Level One, whichever is sooner. The Superintendent shall have seven (7) school days after receipt of the written grievance to render a written decision.
LEVEL THREE - BOARD
If the grievance concerns an action or decision of the Board or if no satisfactory decision or no decision was rendered at Level Two, the grievant or the Association shall submit the grievance, in writing, and discuss it with the Board. Grievances that are appealed from Level Two shall be submitted at Level Three within five (5) school days after receipt of the decision at Level Two or twelve (12) school days after the grievance was submitted at Level Two, whichever is sooner. The Board shall have twenty-one (21) school days after receipt of the written grievance to render a written decision.
LEVEL FOUR - ARBITRATION
If no satisfactory decision or no decision was rendered at Level Three and if the grievance is based upon the interpretation, application, or violation of the language of this Agreement, the Association may submit the grievance to arbitration by sending a "Request for Submission of a Panel of Arbitrators" to the Public Employment Relations Commission and the Board. Such request shall be sent within ten (10) school days after receipt of the decision at Level Three or thirty-one (31) school days after the grievance was submitted at Level Three, whichever is sooner.
The Arbitrator shall have thirty (30) calendar days from the close of the hearing to render a decision. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be in writing and shall set forth findings of fact, reasoning and conclusions on the issues submitted. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be submitted to the Board and the Association and shall be binding on the parties.
Each party shall bear its own cost of arbitration. The costs for the services of the Arbitrator, including per diem expenses, if any, and actual and necessary travel, subsistence expenses, and the cost of the hearing room shall be borne equally by the parties.