- The School District of Palm Beach County
- CARES - Centralized Complaint Assessment & Referral Evaluation System
CARES - Centralized Complaint Assessment & Referral Evaluation System
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Confidential Hotline - Available 24 hours a day!
To report waste, fraud, corruption, abuse, or misconduct, please call CARES, (855) 561-1010, or click here to submit online.
The Office of Inspector General is an independent office established by the School Board pursuant to Policy 1.092
Ways to File a Complaint
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As directed by School Board Policy 1.092.5.d and the authority of the School District Superintendent, CARES provides a centralized, uniform clearinghouse for the receipt, assessment, referral, and tracking of misconduct complaints received by the SDPBC.
There are three (3) ways to file a complaint available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Online
Go to Ethical Advocate's website, https://pbcsd.ethicaladvocate.com, and create an account to submit a complaint. Ethical Advocate is completely independent of the School District.Email
Send an email to cares@palmbeachschools.org.Phone
Call Toll-Free (855) 561-1010. For questions, call (561) 434-7342.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I have a complaint about the bus schedule and late pick-ups. Should I call CARES?
Customer service issues related to staff performance or products provided should be directed to the District leadership charged with overseeing transportation.
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My performance evaluation was low. Can I file a complaint via CARES?
CARES is designed to address allegations of misconduct. Concerns regarding evaluations or management decisions are best handled via employee grievance processes.
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Can I make an anonymous report?
Yes, however, this may impact the ability of the matter to move forward as the information may be limited. Additionally, there are certain collective bargaining agreements that require a complainant be available for questioning.
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What should be reported?
Complaints regarding misconduct on the part of school employees, administrators, vendors, and charter school personnel as it relates to school functions and/or operations.
Reporting of complaints shall be made in accordance to School Board Policy 1.092.
Examples of issues that should be reported are as follows:
- Improper conduct/relationship between a District employee and a student.
- Falsification of timesheets, student records, or other documents.
- School staff selling or operating a private business during work hours or utilizing District email, or District equipment.
- District business partner is providing a personal benefit to a District employee in exchange for awarding a contract.
- Gross Insubordination.
- Student health, safety and welfare complaints.