State Receivership or State Intervention emails (Boston Public Schools)
| Tracking # |
R001254-042722 |
| Multi Request | State Receivership or State Intervention emails |
| Submitted | April 25, 2022 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
From: Boston Public Schools
Dear Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute,
Thank you for your interest in public records of City of Boston. Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on 4/27/2022 11:20:24 PM and given the reference number R001254-042722 for tracking purposes.
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Public Records Center.
Director of Public Records
Records Access Officer
City of Boston
From: Boston Public Schools
--- Please respond above this line ---
05/12/2022 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of April 27, 2022, Reference # R001254-042722 Dear Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute: The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records. This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115. It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests. 950 CMR 32.04(5). Specifically, you stated:
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ I see that a response to this request is due today. I have alerted a representative from the Boston Public Schools in an effort to obtain an update on the status of your April 27, 2022 public records request. I will provide an update to you once additional information is provided to me by the department. Very truly yours,
Eva Scapicchio
Paralegal
Public Records
City of Boston Law Department
617-635-3268
eva.scapicchio@boston.gov (mailto:eva.scapicchio@boston.gov)
05/12/2022
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
MuckRock News DEPT MR 128039
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
RE: Public Records Request R001254-042722 submitted to City of Boston on April 27, 2022
Dear Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute, The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records from the Boston Public Schools
. This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law , p. 32, n.115. It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests. 950 CMR 32.04(5). Specifically, you stated: To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ Response : Assigned The City will review your request and will provide a response once the review of your request is complete. Yours truly,
Shawn A. Williams, Esq.
Director of Public Records
Records Access Officer
City of Boston
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
publicrecords@boston.gov
From: Boston Public Schools
--- Please respond above this line ---
05/17/2022 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of April 27, 2022, Reference # R001254-042722 Dear Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute: The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records. This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115. It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests. 950 CMR 32.04(5). Specifically, you stated:
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ Can you possibly narrow this request down to the the Superintendent, Drew Echelson, and Geoffrey Rose on the BPS portion of this request? We have found 57,000 emails and would like to consolidate them for you. Very truly yours,
Eva Scapicchio
Paralegal
Public Records
City of Boston Law Department
617-635-3268
eva.scapicchio@boston.gov (mailto:eva.scapicchio@boston.gov)
05/17/2022
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
MuckRock News DEPT MR 128039
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
RE: Public Records Request R001254-042722 submitted to City of Boston on April 27, 2022
Dear Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute, The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records from the Boston Public Schools
. This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law , p. 32, n.115. It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests. 950 CMR 32.04(5). Specifically, you stated: To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ Response : Assigned The City will review your request and will provide a response once the review of your request is complete. Yours truly,
Shawn A. Williams, Esq.
Director of Public Records (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=bQH7YI59fmjg-2BFK-2B4CL7ZLOAO0fi28wNsayvfa-2FsoxLJfyhRWtTT6uEIYVzs2X89ZQAYw47ikJmxa5txlzINKQ-3D-3DRRmF_2LBexqp0OXl3iZZS6AwPhI-2BY46L-2Fr2c4yeXQ6YdOYBz6Owov8zv-2B8mdjwmyEkkKJRA-2FOILJr-2Ft7s78DBMSZMevVw3DgT3cNbu7u70-2Fo5XKhVaMo5hQKyUgcR7rk1SsmnFBPBZOunMRu2wlVG8Xy7S7luOremRDnE5CzGSB-2BQJcg37JZmadM3cwh-2FjTPk-2FXK5ZhwZMfZjERjVJVR8VCt2d3ljGw-2BUiE85lfvEesJdeuH3NvIgj-2Bm6xtVou7Syz9R7gfMGEJg55R2NLIjw4IdKnF6EBB2G8qIibRgYUJeKwflJ9Wdl6UzWqAAPcSMvdSYnn9a-2BusdKYmgK7VUteQDFxVrH0swFYrn9raodVNN7buywPMxKidRP-2B-2BqTidBMcOUjpu9OTVjgWhMQ9skYqfxKIg-3D-3D)
Records Access Officer
City of Boston
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
publicrecords@boston.gov
From: Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Hi Eva,
How about if we keep the same people under the same timeline but limit the emails to those that contain these terms:
Riley
Commissioner
Intervention
state audit
Audit
State review
Takeover
Receivership
DESE
BESE
Curtin
District review
Talking points
Please let me know.
Regards,
Mary
From: Boston Public Schools
--- Please respond above this line ---
05/20/2022 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of April 27, 2022., Reference # R001254-042722 Dear Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute: The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records. This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115. It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests. 950 CMR 32.04(5). Specifically, you stated:
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ In response to your request, we are unable to locate the requested records. Please provide the following clarification terms: "Riley", "Commissioner", "Intervention", "state audit", "Audit", "State review", "Takeover", "Receivership", "DESE", "BESE", "Curtin", "District review", "Talking points Very truly yours,
Eva Scapicchio
Paralegal
Public Records
City of Boston Law Department
617-635-3268
eva.scapicchio@boston.gov (mailto:eva.scapicchio@boston.gov)
05/20/2022
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
MuckRock News DEPT MR 128039
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
RE: Public Records Request R001254-042722 submitted to City of Boston on April 27, 2022
Dear Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute, The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records from the Boston Public Schools
. This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law , p. 32, n.115. It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests. 950 CMR 32.04(5). Specifically, you stated: To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022.
I respectfully request that, in order to comply with this request, you require appropriate custodians to search and produce responsive records from public as well as private servers and electronic mail accounts. If you deny the disclosure of any document responsive to this request, please provide the basis of each and every denial in accordance with 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3)(c) & (d). Please have the appropriate person from your staff contact me upon the availability of the above documents. To the extent you intend to charge any fees associated with this production, please provide a written, itemized, good faith estimate of any such fees pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ Response : Waiting for Clarification The City will review your request and will provide a response once the review of your request is complete. Yours truly,
Shawn A. Williams, Esq.
Director of Public Records
Records Access Officer
City of Boston
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
publicrecords@boston.gov
From: Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
We are asking for all emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022, that contain the following terms:
Riley
Commissioner
Intervention
state audit
Audit
State review
Takeover
Receivership
DESE
BESE
Curtin
District review
Talking points
From: Mary Connaughton Pioneer Institute
Hi Eva - How does our request stand?
Mary
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 27, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #R001254-042722.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 27, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #R001254-042722.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 27, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #R001254-042722.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 27, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #R001254-042722.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Boston Public Schools
--- Please respond above this line ---
07/25/2023 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of April 27, 2022., Reference # R001254-042722 Dear Mary: The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records. This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115. It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records concerning responses to public records requests. 950 CMR 32.04(5). Specifically, you stated:
I hereby request the following records:
All emails from or to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Drew Echelson, Geoffrey Rose, Boston Public Schools central office employees and principals, as well as from or to the City of Boston's Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Mike Firestone and Mayor Michelle Wu that are related to the potential state receivership or state intervention of Boston Public Schools, the school district review, state education department's review or audit of the Boston Public Schools dating between March 1, 2022 and April 22, 2022. We have reviewed our files and have located records that correspond to your request. These records have been released to the Public Records Center. Click the link below to login to the Records Center and retrieve the requested records. Five responsive emails consist of attorney-client privileged communications. Suffolk Const. Co., Inc. v. Division of Capital Asset Management , 449 Mass. 444 (2007). These records shall be withheld entirely. A records custodian must satisfy a three-part test in establishing the attorney-client privilege. See Suffolk Constr. Co. v. Div. of Capital Asset Mgmt. , 449 Mass. 444 (2007); see also SPR18/423 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (April 11, 2018). The Suffolk Court’s holding imposes a burden on a records custodian of “not only proving the existence of an attorney-client relationship, but also (1) that the communications were received from a client during the course of the client’s search for legal advice from the attorney in his capacity as such; (2) that the communications were made in confidence; and (3) that the privilege as to these communications has not been waived.” See SPR18/423 (April 11, 2018), p2. The withheld records consist solely of communications between City employees and their attorneys. Such records contain information between an attorney and client related to “the client’s search for legal advice from the attorney in his capacity as such.” All of these communications “were made in confidence.” In all cases “the privilege as to these communications has not been waived.” The Client is the City of Boston. You may appeal this response to the Supervisor of Records in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. G. L. c. 66, § 10A (c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(ix); 950 CMR 32.08; 950 CMR 32.08(1)(h) (in petitioning the Supervisor, the requester shall provide a copy of such petition to the records access officer associated with such petition). You may also appeal to the Superior Court. 950 CMR 32.06(3)(c). Very truly yours, Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records Records Access Officer
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