We Have A Problem

North Crawford School District
Board of Education

Unfairness, misunderstanding, hurt feelings, and conflict are experiences common to us all.
When children experience these problems at school it causes difficulty not only for the children, but for parents, and school staff.
How to successfully solve problems at school is what this guide is all about.

1. Take your concern to the person closest to the problem.
   No matter where the problem is, take your concern there first. Whether in the classroom, on the bus, or on the practice field, the quickest and easiest solution is usually found with the staff member most directly involved.
   It's best if you make time to talk with school personnel regularly, before problems are encountered. Know who your children's teachers, bus drivers, and coaches are and how they may be contacted. Tell them when things are going well, and communicate any concerns you have quickly and openly.
   If you call for an appointment to see your child's teacher, why not let them know in advance what the general nature of your concern is? This gives them an opportunity to ask other staff members for information that might relate to your problem or concern. If a personal visit isn't possible, why not call once to state the problem, and during that conversation, offer to call back at a time when you can both discuss the situation in more detail.
   The problem you or your child faces may be the result of an oversight or misunderstanding that can be easily corrected once it is brought to the attention of the staff members most directly involved. Give them a chance to tackle the problem first.
   • Elementary School 624-5201
   • Jr./Sr. High School 735-4311
   • Transportation 624-3484
2. Present your concern to the next level.
   The Principal is responsible for supervision of staff within the building. The Director of Transportation supervises all school bus drivers. Each one is an example of the next level of school personnel you should contact if the staff member closet to the problem hasn't been able to satisfactorily resolve the difficulty.
   Their ability to help will be improved if you share the steps you've already taken with the staff member closet to the problem, or if you will take time to openly share with them the reasons why you feel uncomfortable dealing directly with the person who is closet to the situation.
   Supervisory personnel will rarely have ready access to the information they need to be of immediate assistance and working through them will often require additional time.
   • Dr. Davies 735-4311
   • Mr. Munson 624-5201
3. Talk with the superintendent of schools.
   Sometimes all the best intentions can't solve a problem. When you believe you've worked hard with those closest to the problem, and you've taken the problem to the next level but still haven't achieved a satisfactory outcome, the superintendent of schools is the next place to go.
   Keep in mind that the superintendent's day starts early and often ends late in the evening. Part of the superintendent's job requires attendance at area-wide meetings outside the district. As a consequence, a meeting with the superintendent will probably require some advance planning.
   • Dr. Dan Davies 735-4318
4. Contact your school board members.
   School board members are elected to represent the interest of all parents and district residents, and you should always feel free to tell them your point of view. School board members do not, however, have direct authority in day-to-day school operations. All authority is the result of official actions by a majority of the board at meetings open to the public.
   The board's primary responsibility is to make policies that guide the school district. Any change in policy requires official board action; that often takes two or more months. Some policy changes may require substantial public input and consultation with the school district's attorney. These requirements often increase the time required for the board to make a response.
   So when should a board member be contacted and what can they do?
   Contact a board member:
   • after other means to solve a problem have been tried
   • when a policy is being enforced but you believe it results in bad consequences
   • when you believe a policy isn't being enforced
   • when policies or procedures are not enforced fairly for all
   A board member may take one or all of the following actions:
   • informally discuss the issue with the superintendent to consider whether policies or rules should be changed
   • request that the board review the specific policies that relate to the situation
   • propose new policies for the board's consideration

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