During a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around the GISD policies GBK and G1900, which address staff grievances and whistleblower protections. Presenters Miss Burciaga and Miss Mejia outlined the critical components of the G1900 policy, which safeguards employees engaging in specific protected activities from retaliation.

The G1900 policy delineates three key protected activities: reporting unlawful or improper conduct to public bodies, providing information or testifying before such bodies, and refusing to participate in illegal activities. Employees who engage in these actions are shielded from adverse employment actions, including termination or creating a hostile work environment.

The presenters emphasized the importance of a structured response to whistleblower reports, highlighting that the employee discipline matrix is the appropriate channel for handling such grievances. This process includes an initial intake phase where the employee may be placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted. Throughout this process, employees are informed that retaliation is strictly prohibited.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the grievance process for interpersonal disputes, which differs from the whistleblower protocol. The grievance process is designed for less severe complaints, such as disputes between teachers and administrators.

Questions from board members included inquiries about the last update to the whistleblower policy, which was confirmed to have not been revised since its adoption in New Mexico in 2010. There was also a request for clarification on the current posting requirements for the whistleblower policy within the district.

The meeting underscored the district's commitment to protecting employees who report misconduct and ensuring that proper procedures are in place to address grievances effectively.