MC2 Civil Rights Procedure

Making Community Connections Charter School is a sponsor of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services’ (FNS) Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) at the Making Community Connections Charter School Manchester campus and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) at the Making Community Connections Charter School Manchester campus. Making Community Connections Charter School campus provides benefits to all eligible individuals without discrimination in accordance with Federal civil rights laws and USDA policy, as governed by FNS Instruction 113-1. 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, age, sex, and disability.

Program participants who feel they have been discriminated against while participating in the Child Nutrition Programs, including during the serving of meals, will be instructed to contact John Sabolevski, MC² CEO, 603-606-1222 for procedures to voice their complaint. All complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability, either written or verbal, must be processed within the established time frames and sent to the NH Department of Education, Office of Nutrition Programs and Services.

Right to File

Any person or representative alleging discrimination based on a prohibited basis has the right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action. Only the Secretary of Agriculture may extend this time under special circumstances. The complainant must be advised of confidentiality and Privacy Act applications. The MC² CEO will not attempt to resolve the complaint themselves, without first providing the complainant with information on how they can file a complaint.

Forms

The MC² CEO will provide, all persons wishing to file a complaint, instructions on where to find the information for submitting a online or where they can obtain a hard copy. This information is found on the “And Justice for All” poster. However, use of this form will not be a prerequisite for acceptance of the complaint. 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) for assistance in filing a complaint.

Filing a Complaint

The MC² CEO will provide instructions to the complainant on where to forward the completed USDA Discrimination Complaint Form by:

mail: 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
fax: (202) 690-7442; or
e-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.

Verbal Complaints

In the event a complainant wishes to make the allegations verbally or in person and refuses or is not inclined to place such allegations in writing, the name of contact person will write up the elements of the complaint for the complainant utilizing the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form found here: .

https://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf

Acceptance of Written or Verbal

All complaints received by the MC² CEO written or verbal, will be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OCR). Anonymous complaints will be handled as any other complaints, to the extent feasible, based on available information. Complaints will be forwarded to OCR via:

mail: 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
fax: (202) 690-7442; or
e-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.

State Agency Notification

If the MC² CEO is notified that a program participant has filed a Civil Rights complaint or they have filed a complaint on behalf of a program participant, they will notify Cheri White at the NH Department of Education, cheri.white@doe.nh.gov . The MC² CEO will provide information as requested by the NH DOE during the OCR investigation of the complaint.

State Protected Classes

The complainant will be notified by the SAU of where to send a complaint if it is a complaint is within the NH State protected classes, which are: Sexual Orientation, Religion, Marital Status, Familial Status, Physical or Mental Disability, Gender Identity (just added in 2018)

The SAU or the complainant may contact the NH Commission for Human Rights who administers the NH State protected classes. The contact information is below:

Phone: 603-271-2767 (or TD ACCESS: relay NH 1-800-735-2964), press #0

Email: humanrights@nh.gov

The SAU/sponsor will provide information to both the ONPS and the OCR upon request.

Interpretation Services

The SAU will provide the complainant with information regarding interpretation services to ensure proper communication for individuals who need them. The contact for interpretive services is the NH Commission for Human Rights. Their contact information is: 603-271-2767, press #0 to request a language interpreter, or email the Commission at humanrights@nh.gov and make an appointment for language interpretation.

In addition, the SAU may provide interpretive services to any individual who needs the services of a qualified Spanish-speaking interpreter through the NH Dept. of Education. Please contact the Office of Nutrition Programs and Services at 271-3860 for more information.

This can be found on the Making Community Connections Charter School website: https://mc2school.org/mc2-civil-rights-procedure/

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: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.