Philadelphia Federation of Teachers School District of Philadelphia

(d) Within five (5) school days after receiving the grievance, the Principal shall
communicate his/her decision in writing to the employee who lodged the grievance
and to the Federation representative.
3. Step 2
(a) Within five (5) school days after receiving the decision of the Principal,
the aggrieved employee, through the Federation, or the Federation in its own
name, may appeal from the decision at Step 1 to a Hearing Officer designated
by the Superintendent of Schools and/or CEO. (It is the intention of the parties
that there shall be a Hearing Officer for all cases for as long a term as possible
in order to afford the parties the benefit of the knowledge and experience thus
gained by such Hearing Officer.) The appeal shall be in writing and shall be
accompanied by a copy of the decision at Step 1. A copy of said appeal shall be
sent to the appropriate Regional Superintendent or other Administrator and to
the Labor Relations Office of the Office of Human Resources. Within ten (10)
school days after the receipt of the appeal, said Labor Relations Office shall use
its good offices to adjust or resolve the grievance amicably.
(b) If the grievance is not thus resolved amicably, said Labor Relations Office
should refer the matter to the said Regional Superintendent or Administrator,
who shall take such steps as he/she deems necessary in order to adjust the grievance
amicably.
(c) If the efforts at amicable adjustment do not resolve the grievance, then,
not later than twenty-two (22) school days after receipt of the appeal, the Hearing
Officer shall hold a hearing on the grievance.
(d) The aggrieved employee, any Federation representative who may have
participated at Step 1, the Principal and the Chairperson of the Federation Grievance
Committee, or his/her designee, shall be given at least five (5) school days’
notice of the hearing and an opportunity to be heard thereat on the subject of
the grievance. The appropriate Regional Superintendent or Associate Superintendent
may participate in such hearing and may advise and counsel the Hearing
Officer. In the event the hearing is conducted by a designee of the Executive
Director of Human Resources, he/she shall make a written report to said Executive
Director.
(e) Within ten (10) school days after the hearing on the appeal, the Executive
Director of Human Resources shall state his/her independent decision and the
reasons therefore in writing and simultaneously forward copies thereof to the
aggrieved employee, to the Federation representatives who participated in this
Step and to the Principal.
(f) Where a Principal has been involved in a determination or an action which
gave rise to a grievance, he/she shall, if requested by the grievant, the Hearing
Officer, or the Superintendent and/or CEO, be present at Step 2 and Step 3
proceedings.
4. Step 3
(a) Within twenty-five (25) school days after receiving the decision of the
Executive Director of Human Resources, the School District or the Federation
may submit the matter to arbitration if the grievance, complaint or problem
involves the compliance with, or application or interpretation of this Agreement,
provided that a grievance concerning any School District action, not inconsistent
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XV. Dispute Resolution