Conciliation takes place after an investigation has been completed. Conciliation is intended as a final process empowering the involved parties to come to a resolution that allows them to move beyond the conflict. At the end of the conciliation, if there is no settlement, the report is sent to the Director of Education or, in the case of a Board employee, to the Superintendent of Human Resources, to be addressed.
Conciliation is the final opportunity for the parties to try to settle the matter. At the end of this process, the complaint must either be resolved or referred. The conciliator speaks to the parties individually about the situation and possible solutions. At the conciliation itself, the parties are expected to negotiate effectively and in good faith, to treat each other with respect, and to keep discussions confidential.
Discussions in conciliation are "without prejudice". This means that the parties do not give up their right to launch further legal proceedings or to take other steps. It also means that anything discussed during conciliation cannot be used in a later court case. Further, participating in conciliation does not mean that one party accepts the other party's version of events.