LMAA Grievance Policy
To maintain the important role of evaluation in the performances of LMEA participants, all adjudicators must clearly understand their duties and obligations and must perpetuate the dignity and honor of the profession. To ensure that all adjudicators establish and maintain their duties, obligations, dignity and honor with respect and equity for all, this LMAA Penalties for Rules & Policies Infractions Policy is established.
Any adjudicator who by any act or omission is in violation of published documents of LMAA may be subject to private or public reprimand. Situations involving repeated or severe infractions may result in denial or loss of LMAA membership. Examples of LMAA published documents include, but are not limited to the LMAA Policies and Ethics for Louisiana Music Adjudicators.
Penalties
Any adjudicator who by any act or omission is in violation of published documents of LMAA may be subject to private or public reprimand. Situations involving repeated or severe infractions may result in denial or loss of LMAA membership. Examples of LMAA published documents include, but are not limited to the LMAA Policies and Ethics for Louisiana Music Adjudicators.
- Submitting a Grievance
- Any director, adjudicator, school official or concerned party may submit a grievance against a specific individual.
- Grievances must be submitted to the LMAA Executive Secretary via email and must contain the following information:
- Role/Title (Band Director, Administrator, etc.)
- First and Last Name
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- School Name and Band Name
- Date and Location/Site of Contest
- LMEA District
- Contest Chairman
- Details of Grievance
- Role/Title (Band Director, Administrator, etc.)
- The LMAA Executive Secretary shall immediately inform, in writing, the adjudicator(s) who is (are) the subject of the grievance and the LMAA President.
- The LMAA President shall investigate* and report to the LMAA Executive Committee.
- The LMAA Executive Committee will administer penalties for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 violations.
- For Level 4 violations, the LMAA Executive Committee will take disciplinary action and the decisions will be final.
- The complainant should receive a reply from the Executive Secretary that an investigation will occur and appropriate action will be taken.
- Any director, adjudicator, school official or concerned party may submit a grievance against a specific individual.
- Jurisdictions
- The LMAA Executive Committee will have jurisdiction to determine the merit of a grievance and administer penalties for Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 violations.
- A unanimous vote of the LMAA Executive Committee shall be required to administer any level of violation.
- The LMAA Executive Secretary has no jurisdiction in this process.
- The LMAA Executive Committee will have jurisdiction to determine the merit of a grievance and administer penalties for Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 violations.
Penalties
- Level 1 – No action. The grievance will be kept in the custodial care of the Executive Secretary. If additional complaints are received action may be taken at a later date.
- Level 2 – At the direction of the Executive Committee, the adjudicator will receive a Communication from the President explaining the grievance and making recommendations for correction. A warning will be given that continued complaints could result in a more serious consequence.
- Level 3 – At the direction of the Executive Committee, a private letter of reprimand shall be sent to the adjudicator only, and a copy kept in the custodial care of the Executive Secretary. A Level 3 penalty may include a probationary period of up to three years and may include any reasonable conditions which, if not fulfilled, may result in a more stringent penalty.
- Level 4- Investigation results show the complaint is of a serious nature. (This could also include repeated complaints of a Level 2 or Level 3 violation.) At the direction of the Executive Committee, penalties could include a public letter of reprimand (copy sent to LMEA Board of Directors), probation, and /or denial or suspension from LMAA membership. These are meant to be examples and not limitations.
- Investigation
- The president will begin an investigation promptly. The contest chairperson, LMEA District Director, the accused, and/or other appropriate witnesses will be contacted and interviewed. Anonymity and privacy will be considered and maintained with the understanding that at some point the accused may have a right to know the identity of the accuser.
- The president will canvas the Executive Committee for a vote on the recommended course of action to take.
- The president will begin an investigation promptly. The contest chairperson, LMEA District Director, the accused, and/or other appropriate witnesses will be contacted and interviewed. Anonymity and privacy will be considered and maintained with the understanding that at some point the accused may have a right to know the identity of the accuser.