The Ombuds Blog: Kalamazoo Public Schools Plans for First Ombuds

May 17, 2023

Kalamazoo Public Schools Plans for First Ombuds

The public school district in West Michigan is promising to create an Ombuds program. KPS Board Vice President Jermaine Jackson said the Ombuds will assist parents “as a independent, impartial, confidential and informal resource.” The initiative came out of an ad hoc committee earlier this year as part of a broad plan to improve the climate, culture and relationship with district stakeholders. Details for the new district Ombuds have not been finalized. (MLive.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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May 17, 2023

Kalamazoo Public Schools Plans for First Ombuds

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