St. Ignace Area Schools

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of these protected classes: race, color, national origin, sex, disability and age. Any person alleging discrimination based on a protected class has the right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action. Complaints can be accepted verbally, in writing, anonymously, and from third party representatives.

 Upon receipt of a complaint, the receiver of the complaint at the school/district should immediately:

 1. Contact the School Food Authority (SFA) USDA Child Nutrition Programs Civil Rights Coordinator.

 2. The recipient of the complaint and/or SFA Civil Rights Coordinator must provide the individual with the information necessary to file a complaint and not impede on the individual’s right to file.

 3. After explaining the complaint process, the recipient of the complaint and/or SFA Civil Rights Coordinator may try to resolve the situation in real time. Remember to advise the complainant of their right to file the complaint at the federal level if they wish to do so.

 4. Document the complaint:

 a.     Utilize the USDA Program Discrimination complaint form (Espanol) or make an effort to obtain all of the following information:

• Name, address, and phone number of complainant,

• Specific name and location of entity delivering the benefit or service,

• The nature of the incident, action, or method of administration that led the complainant to feel discriminated against,

• The basis on which the complainant feels discriminated (race, color, national origin, sex, etc.),

• The names, titles, business addresses, and phone numbers of persons who may have knowledge of the discriminatory action,

• The date(s) during which the alleged discriminatory actions occurred, or if continuing, the duration of such actions.

 b. Either the complainant, the receiver of the complaint or the SFA Civil Rights Coordinator, should document the complaint. If a complainant makes the allegations verbally or refuses to place such allegations in writing, the person to whom the allegations are made must write up the elements of the complaint.

 5. All verbal, written, or anonymous complaints received by the SFA must be forwarded to the Michigan Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team Director within five days of receiving the  complaint.

  St Ignace Area Schools

School Nutrition Team

            W429 Portage Rd

            St. Ignace, MI. 49781

 The SIS will forward the complaint to the USDA Midwest Regional Office for processing.

6.  All Civil Rights complaints received must be tracked on a civil rights complaint log. This log should be maintained in a confidential manner and only available to SFA staff members who have a legitimate need to know. A template civil rights complaint log is available on the School Nutrition Team civil rights webpage.