(1) Brief adjudicative proceedings shall be conducted by a conduct review officer. The conduct review officer shall not participate in any case in which he/she is a witness, has direct or personal interest, prejudice, or bias, or has previously provided significant advice or direction to the student conduct officer.

(2) Before making a decision, the conduct review officer shall schedule an informal hearing to provide each party an opportunity (a) to be informed of the agency's view of the matter, and (b) to explain the party's view of the matter.

(3) The conduct review officer shall serve an initial decision upon the parties within ten days of the scheduled hearing. The initial decision shall contain a brief written statement of the reasons for the decision and information about how to seek review under WAC 495C-121-130.

(4) If the conduct review officer, upon review, determines that the respondent's conduct may warrant imposition of a disciplinary suspension of more than ten instructional days or a dismissal, he/she shall refer the matter to the student conduct committee for a disciplinary hearing.