Child Nutrition Civil Rights Complaint Procedures
Civil Rights Complaint Procedures
Columbus Independent School District provides the Child Nutrition Program benefits to all eligible individuals without discrimination on the bases of race, color, national origin, sexual origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you feel in any way that your child has been discriminated against while participating in the Child Nutrition Program, including during the serving of meals to him/her, please follow these procedures in voicing your complaint:
- Please fill out the Discrimination Complaint Form at Columbus ISD Central Office, located at 105 Cardinal Lane, Columbus, Texas,78934.
- Take your form to the Child Nutrition Director, Cheryl Woytek (979-732-2078 ext. 403), or your child’s principal. All written complaints will be accepted by the school district and forwarded to the Food and Nutrition Division, Texas Department of Agriculture.
- Participants are permitted to file a verbal complaint if they choose. School Nutrition staff will document the claim ensuring they receive all information that is requested on the civil rights complaint form. The School Nutrition manager/staff receiving the complaint must sign their own name indicating who took the complaint and document how the complaint was made: whether in writing, verbally, or in person. The Manager or School Nutrition staff will forward the written complaint to the School Nutrition Director. The School Nutrition Director will then forward the discrimination complaint form to the Food and Nutrition Division of the Texas Department of Agriculture.
- You may also make your complaint to the Columbus ISD Superintendent, Mr. Jim Connor, 105 Cardinal Lane, Columbus, Texas, 78934, 979-732-5704.
- If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected]. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.