Arizona Administrative Code
Title 7 - EDUCATION
Chapter 2 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Article 11 - SCHOOL DISTRICT PROCUREMENT
Part XIX - CONTRACT CLAIMS AND CONTROVERSIES
Section R7-2-1158 - Appeals to a Hearing Officer

A. An appeal from a decision entered or deemed to be entered by the district representative on a contract claim or controversy shall be filed with the district representative within 30 days from the date of decision.

B. The appeal shall contain the basis for the precise factual or legal error in the decision of the district representative from which an appeal is taken.

C. The district representative shall file a complete response to the appeal within 21 days from the date the appeal is filed or within five days after the hearing officer has been selected, whichever is later. At the same time, the district representative shall furnish a copy of the response to the appellant and to any interested party.

D. The district representative may submit a written request to the hearing officer for an extension of the period for submission of response, identifying the reasons for the extension. The hearing officer shall approve or deny the request in writing, state the reasons for the determination, and, if an extension is granted, set forth a new date for the submission of filing a response. The hearing officer shall notify the district representative and the interested party of any extension.

E. The interested party shall file comments on the district representative's response with the hearing officer within 10 days after receipt of the response. The interested party shall provide copies of the comments to the district representative and other interested parties.

F. The interested party may submit a written request to the hearing officer for an extension of the period for submission of comments, identifying the reasons for the extension. The hearing officer shall approve or deny the request in writing, state the reasons for the determination, and, if an extension is granted, set forth a new date for the submission of filing comments. The hearing officer shall notify the district representative and the interested party of any extension.

G. All costs associated with conducting a hearing, including the costs of the hearing officer, shall be paid by the school district. If the hearing officer decides in favor of the school district, the other party shall reimburse the school district for the costs of the hearing within 30 days of receipt of a copy of the hearing officer's invoice.

H. The Executive Director of the State Board of Education ("Executive Director") shall prepare and maintain a list of individuals who meet the qualifications specified in R7-2-1185 to serve as hearing officers.

I. A hearing officer may be selected by mutual agreement of both parties. If the parties are unable to mutually agree on a hearing officer, three hearing officers shall be selected randomly by the Executive Director and shall be screened to determine availability and possible bias. Once the Executive Director has selected three hearing officers who are available and show no evidence of bias, the three names shall be provided to both parties. Both parties have the opportunity to strike one name from the list provided, but shall do so within 14 calendar days from the date on which the Executive Director provided the list to the parties. If after the time period for striking a hearing officer has passed and more than one person remains on the list, the Executive Director shall select one of the remaining individuals on the list as the hearing officer unless either party objects for cause and provides such reason in writing to the Executive Director. If after the time period for striking a hearing officer has passed and there is only one person remaining on the list, the remaining individual shall be named as the hearing officer unless either party objects for cause and provides such reason in writing to the Executive Director. Objections for cause shall require specific evidence that the individual does not meet the criteria specified in R7-2-1185. The Executive Director shall review the evidence submitted and determine the qualifications of the individual. If the Executive Director determines that the individual is not qualified to serve as the hearing officer, the Executive Director shall repeat the process and select three additional hearing officers to be provided to the parties.

J. Issuance of a school district purchase order shall constitute the official selection date of the hearing officer.