                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DECISION OF SCHOOL BOARD; ISSUE OF GRIEVABILITY; APPEAL (§ 22.1-314)

Decisions regarding whether or not a matter is grievable shall be made by the
school board at the request of the school division administration or grievant
and such decision shall be made within 10 business days of such request. The
school board shall reach its decision only after allowing the school division
administration and the grievant opportunity to present written or oral arguments
regarding grievability. The decision as to whether the arguments shall be
written or oral shall be in the discretion of the school board. Decisions of the
school board may be appealed to the circuit court having jurisdiction in the
school division for a hearing on the issue of grievability.
		Proceedings for review of the decision of the school board shall be instituted
by filing a notice of appeal with the school board within 10 business days after
the date of the decision and giving a copy thereof to all other parties. Within
10 business days thereafter, the school board shall transmit to the clerk of the
court to which the appeal is taken a copy of its decision, a copy of the notice
of appeal, and the exhibits. The failure of the school board to transmit the
record within the time allowed shall not prejudice the rights of the grievant.
The court, on motion of the grievant, may issue a writ of certiorari requiring
the school board to transmit the record on or before a certain date. Within 10
business days of receipt by the clerk of such record, the court, sitting without
a jury, shall hear the appeal on the record transmitted by the school board and
such additional evidence as may be necessary to resolve any controversy as to
the correctness of the record. The court, in its discretion, may receive such
other evidence as the ends of justice require. The court may affirm the decision
of the school board or may reverse or modify the decision. The decision of the
court shall be rendered no later than the fifteenth day from the date of the
conclusion of the hearing. Such determination of grievability shall be made
subsequent to the reduction of the grievance to writing but prior to any hearing
or the right to such determination shall be deemed to have been waived.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 22-217.8:01; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1987, c. 97;
2003, c. 187; 2013, cc. 588, 650.