FORMAL COMPLAINT

The PCSSD Title IX Complaint Form may be downloaded here.

A formal complaint may be filed with the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, or by email. Upon receipt of a formal complaint, a District shall simultaneously provide the following written notice to the parties who are known:

  1. Notice of the District’s grievance process and a copy of the procedure governing the grievance process

  2. Notice of the allegations of sexual harassment including sufficient details known at the time and with sufficient time to prepares a response before and initial interview. Sufficient details include:
    a. The identities of the parties involved in the incident, if know
    b. The conduct allegedly constituting sexual harassment
    c. The date and location of the alleged incident if known

  3. A statement that the respondent is presumed not responsible for the alleged conduct and that a determination regarding responsibility is made at the conclusion of the grievance process

  4. That the parties may have an advisor of their choice, who may be, but is not required to be, an attorney

  5. The parties may inspect and review evidence relevant to the complaint of sexual harassment

  6. That the district’s code of conduct prohibits knowingly making false statements or knowingly submitting false information during the grievance process

If in the course of an investigation, the District decides to investigate allegations about the complainant or respondent that are not included in the previous notice, the District shall simultaneously provide notice of additional allegations to the parties whose identities are known.

The District may consolidate formal complaints of allegations of sexual harassment where the allegations of sexual harassment arise out of the same facts or circumstances and the formal complaints are against more than one respondent; or by more than one complainant against one or more respondents; or by one party against the other party. When the District has consolidated formal complaints so that the grievance process involves more than one complainant or more than one respondent, references to the singular “party”, “complainant”, or “respondent” include the plural, as applicable.

When investigating a formal complaint and throughout the grievance process, a District shall:

  1. Ensure that the burden of proof and the burden of gathering evidence sufficient to reach a determination regarding responsibility rest on the District and not on the parties;

  2. Not require, allow, rely upon, or otherwise use questions or evidence that constitute, or seek disclosure of, information protected under a legally recognized privilege or access, consider, disclose, or otherwise use a party’s records that are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional acting in the professional’s or paraprofessional’s capacity, or assisting in that capacity, and which are made and maintained in connection with the provision of treatment to the party unless the District obtains the parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult of that party’s voluntary, written consent or that party’s voluntary, written consent if the party is over the age of eighteen (18) to do so for the grievance process;

  3. Provide an equal opportunity for the parties to present witnesses, including fact and expert witnesses, and other inculpatory and exculpatory evidence;

  4. Not restrict the ability of either party to discuss the allegations under investigation or to gather and present relevant evidence;

  5. Provide the parties with the same opportunities to have others present during any grievance proceeding, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by the advisor of their choice, who may be, but is not required to be, an attorney, and not limit the choice or presence of advisor for either the complainant or respondent in any meeting or grievance proceeding;

  6. Provide, to a party whose participation is invited or expected, written notice of the date, time, location, participants, and purpose of all hearings, investigative interviews, or other meetings, with sufficient time for the party to prepare to participate;

  7. Provide both parties an equal opportunity to inspect and review any evidence obtained as part of the investigation that is directly related to the allegations raised in the formal complaint so that each party can meaningfully respond to the evidence prior to the conclusion of the investigation ; this includes evidence:
    a. Whether obtained from a party or other source;
    b. The District does not intend to rely upon in reaching a determination
    regarding responsibility; and
    c. That is either Inculpatory or exculpatory; and
    d. Create an investigative report that fairly summarizes relevant evidence.

At least ten (10) days prior to completion of the investigative report, the District shall send to each party and the party’s advisor, if any, the evidence subject to inspection and review in an electronic format or a hard copy. The parties shall have at least ten (10) days to submit a written response to the evidence. The investigator will consider the written responses prior to completion of the investigative report. All evidence subject to inspection and review shall be available for the parties’ inspection and review at any meeting to give each party equal opportunity to refer to such evidence during the meeting.

After the investigative report is sent to the parties, the decision-maker shall:

  1. Provide each party the opportunity to submit written, relevant questions that a party wants asked of any party or witness;

  2. Provide each party with the answers;

  3. Allow for additional, limited follow-up questions from each party; and

  4. Provide an explanation to the party proposing the questions any decision to exclude a question as not relevant. Specifically, questions and evidence about the complainant’s sexual predisposition or prior sexual behavior are not relevant, unless such questions and evidence about the complainant’s prior sexual behavior are offered to prove that someone other than the respondent committed the conduct alleged by the complainant, or if the questions and evidence concern specific incidents of the complainant’s prior sexual behavior with respect to the respondent and are offered to prove consent.