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CONFLICT RESOLUTION -- LOCAL POLICY DEFINITION:     Conflict Resolution is the process used to secure, at the lowest possible administrative level, equitable solutions to problems which may from time to time arise affecting staff members, parents, students or involved parties of Holy Family School.  Neither the presenter nor the respondent shall be represented by a lawyer. A.  INFORMAL LEVEL    Ordinarily grievances or complaints are handled in discussion with the principal.  The presenter makes the problem known to the principal.  If the conflict is not resolved between the presenter and the principal, the following steps are followed:          1.    The presenter submits to the principal in writing the problem and the remedy sought.       2.    An informal meeting is scheduled with the principal, presenter and pastor.  If a solution is not obtained through these informal efforts, the presenter may proceed to the Formal Level. B.  FORMAL LEVEL    If a solution has not been obtained through informal discussions, within five (5) working days of the alleged incident the presenter should notify the principal who will then proceed to the next step.  The principal will forward within two (2) working days the written presentation of the presenter to the Chairperson of the Holy Family School Education Commission.         1.    The Chairperson of the Education Commission, after consultation with the pastor, will convene a special executive session of the committee to present the conflict.  Prior to the meeting, the Chairperson appoints a Committee for Resolution of Conflict.  The Committee shall consist of three (3) members of the Education Commission.  The appointed Chairperson shall preside at all meetings.  The Committee shall adopt additional procedural and Administrative rules as deemed necessary:  such as:        a.    The presenter may make a statement, either orally or in writing, relating to the problem.    b.    The respondent may make a statement in answer.        c.    The presenter may give other evidence, either documentary or from witnesses, and may question the respondent.        d.    The respondent may present evidence, either documentary or from witnesses, and may question the presenter.        e.    Members of the Resolution of Conflict Committee may question the parties and witnesses.    f.    All statements, evidence and questions must relate to the specific problem.  Either party (the presenter or the respondent) may object to the questions, evidence or statements on the grounds of irrelevancy.  The presiding officer shall rule on objections, after consulting with the other members of the Resolution of Conflict Committee.        2.    The Conflict Resolution Committee meets to determine the action that will be recommended.  The presiding officer will present a written recommendation to the pastor within five (5) working days.        3.    Within five (5) working days the Pastor decides whether or not to implement the committee's recommendation and notifies the presenter, principal and of the Conflict of Resolution Committee.         4.    In the event that either party is dissatisfied with the decision of the Pastor, the Diocesan Appeal and Review Policy may be considered.  The Diocesan Appeal & Review Policy follows this local policy. TIME LINES The Resolution of Conflict Committee establishes the time frames for each step of the process. 1.    Failure to proceed within the appropriate time frames on the part of the principal or Education Commission allows the presenter to proceed to the next step.    2.    Failure to proceed on the part of the presenter at any point in the proceeding will make the answer at the previous step final. 3.    Any time limit in this procedure may be extended by mutual consent of the presenter and the Resolution Committee; such extension must be stated in writing and signed by the presenter and Chairperson. APPEAL AND REVIEW POLICY - DIOCESAN LEVEL  (G-111, P-CDOP) A review or appeal of any decision concerning policies, procedures, or other serious matters made by the competent authority of any of the schools of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria may be requested by any member of the diocese under the following conditions only: o The decision violates or is in conflict with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, or o The decision violates or is in conflict with an applicable diocesan policy, or o The decision violates or is in conflict with a policy or procedure of the parish, the school, or other entity that takes precedence over the decision in question, or o The decision violates or is in conflict with an applicable federal, state or local civil law. It is to be noted that dissatisfaction with a decision is not a sufficient condition for appeal. Catholic Diocese of Peoria Policy Adopted: 5/00; Revised:  1/03 APPEAL AND REVIEW  (G-111, AR-CDOP) The individual or group desiring the appeal or the review of a decision must make that request known to the governing pastor or pastors’ board responsible for the school in the form of a letter. As a matter of record, a copy of that letter is to be forwarded to the local vicar and to the Superintendent of Schools. This letter must clearly cover each of the following points: o The decision that is being questioned and which competent authority made it. o The grounds for the appeal or the review with specific reference to one or more of the four (4) conditions listed in the policy statement above, and o The proposed resolution. The governing pastor or pastors’ board, having received the request for appeal or review, is to respond to those making the request within thirty (30) days of receiving the request. A copy of the response letter is to be forwarded to the local vicar having jurisdiction over the particular parish/school and to the Superintendent of Schools. In most cases, the decision of the governing pastor or pastors’ board is final. However, those who have requested the appeal or review may further appeal the decision of the governing pastor or pastors’ board to the local vicar within thirty (30) days. The local vicar has the authority to summarily dismiss the appeal or he may forward the appeal to the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and the Office of Catholic Schools. The Vicar General shall make a final decision on the appeal in such cases. If the local vicar decides to dismiss the case he must, as a matter of record, forward a copy of such decision to the Vicar General and the Office of Catholic Schools. It is at the sole discretion of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria to intervene in any matter at any time, and to modify, reverse, or rescind any action taken by the above-referenced officials. Catholic Diocese of Peoria    Administrative Regulation,   Issued:  1/03