Verkada hack emails and documents (Brevard)
| Submitted | March 18, 2021 |
| Est. Completion | April 9, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Florida Sunshine Law, I hereby request the following records:
1) All emails sent and received from Jan. 1, 2021 until the date this request is completed between Brevard County Schools staff and employees of Verkada Inc. (email addresses ending in "@verkada.com").
2) All emails sent or received by Brevard County Schools staff containing the word "Verkada" from Jan. 1, 2021 until the date this request is completed.
3) All contracts and statements of work related to Brevard County Schools' purchase and use of Verkada Inc. technology.
4) All user manuals or guidebooks for Verkada Inc. technology used by Brevard County Schools.
I ask that all fees be waived as this information is in the public interest. In the event that the district chooses to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the costs, including the hourly wages of any personnel assigned to process the request and estimates of how many hours the request will take them to process.
Should the district choose to deny access to or redact records responsive to this request, I ask that the district provides a detailed explanation of its reasoning--as required by law--citing the specific statutes and case law on which each decision is based.
Thank you very much for your help, and if you have any questions regarding my request please do not hesitate to contact me for clarification.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: Brevard County Public Schools, Viera
March 18, 2021 E-MAILED
Todd Feathers
MuckRock News
Dept MR 109858
411 A Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
RE: Acknowledgement of Public Records Request Heat Ticket ID# 127331
Dear Mr. Feathers,
We have received your public records request.
Your request will be processed in accordance with the Florida Public Records Law.
Please be advised there are potentially fees to cover the cost of reproduction, including copier expenses, supplies and staff time associated with all requests. You will be advised as soon as possible regarding estimated costs. Payment will be due in advance by check or money order made payable to School Board of Brevard County. If the actual cost is more than the estimate, your records will be released when payment in full has been received. If actual cost is less than the estimate, a check for reimbursement will be requested and mailed to you.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all completed public records are in a digitized format. To receive a digitized version of a redacted record may require additional time and resources, resulting in additional expense.
You will be notified if records are exempt from public disclosure. Under public records laws, the district is not obliged to create a new document or records in response to a request for public records. Likewise, the district will not acquire computer software for the sole purpose of providing access or delivery of public records that are accessible by other means.
If you have any questions, please contact me at recordsrequest@brevardschools.org<mailto:recordsrequest@brevardschools.org>.
Sincerely,
Amy Lewandowski
Government & Community Relations
School Board of Brevard County
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, Florida 32940
From: Brevard County Public Schools, Viera
March 22, 2021 E-MAILED
Todd Feathers
MuckRock News
Dept MR 109858
411 A Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
RE: Public Records Request Heat Ticket ID# 127331
Dear Mr. Feathers,
I have attached the copy the draft agreement provided by our Procurement Department.
Educational Technology has estimated approximately 5000 emails returned from the search. Please find attached an invoice for your public record request. Please make your check or money order payable to The School Board of Brevard County and send it to:
School Board of Brevard County
Attn: Amy Lewandowski
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL 32940-6601
Your request will automatically be cancelled after ten (10) business days (April 2, 2021) if Records Department does not receive contact from you or payment within this timeframe.
Please let me know if I may be of further assistance.
[Image result for hello march]Amy Lewandowski
Records Management Specialist
School Board of Brevard County Florida
Government & Community Relations
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way| Viera, Florida 32940
' 321.633.1000 x11453 7 321.633.3620
* Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org<mailto:Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org>
From: Todd Feathers
Hi Amy,
Thank you very much for the quick response. I see the draft agreement attached, but not the invoice for the emails. Would you mind sending that again?
Best,
Todd
From: Brevard County Public Schools, Viera
Mr. Feathers,
Sorry, the invoice is now attached.
[Image result for hello march]Amy Lewandowski
Records Management Specialist
School Board of Brevard County Florida
Government & Community Relations
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way| Viera, Florida 32940
' 321.633.1000 x11453 7 321.633.3620
* Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org<mailto:Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org>
From: Todd Feathers
Hello Amy,
Thank you for your quick response. That fee seems fairly excessive, so I'd like to remove from my request item #2 (any emails with the word "Verkada") and limit the email portion to emails to or from "@verkada.com" addresses.
Thank you very much,
Todd
From: Brevard County Public Schools, Viera
Mr. Feathers,
Would you like to provide any keywords to narrow the email search?
Please note that information revealing surveillance techniques, procedures or personnel is exempt from public inspection pursuant to s. 119.071(2)(d), F.S.
[Image result for hello march]Amy Lewandowski
Records Management Specialist
School Board of Brevard County Florida
Government & Community Relations
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way| Viera, Florida 32940
' 321.633.1000 x11453 7 321.633.3620
* Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org<mailto:Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org>
From: Todd Feathers
Hello Amy,
I believe my revised request for emails to and from addresses ending in "@verkada.com" should be sufficient for now.
With regards to Florida Statute 119.071(2)(d), I believe the exemption has been interpreted to apply to law enforcement agencies, not just any governmental body that owns a camera. Should BCPS choose to deny or redact records on the grounds of 119.071(2)(d), I ask that you provide your detailed legal justification for doing so.
Thank you,
Todd
From: Brevard County Public Schools, Viera
March 29, 2021 E-MAILED
Todd Feathers
MuckRock News
Dept MR 109858
411 A Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
RE: Public Records Request Heat Ticket ID# 127331
Dear Mr. Feathers,
Please find the attached updated invoice for your public record request. Please make your check or money order payable to The School Board of Brevard County and send it to:
School Board of Brevard County
Attn: Amy Lewandowski
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL 32940-6601
Your request will automatically be cancelled after ten (10) business days (April 9, 2021) if Records Department does not receive contact from you or payment within this timeframe.
Please let me know if I may be of further assistance.
[Image result for hello march]Amy Lewandowski
Records Management Specialist
School Board of Brevard County Florida
Government & Community Relations
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way| Viera, Florida 32940
' 321.633.1000 x11453 7 321.633.3620
* Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org<mailto:Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org>
From: Todd Feathers
Hello Amy,
I would like to adjust my request to cover the period from March 1, 2021 until the date this request is processed, thank you.
Todd Feathers
From: Brevard County Public Schools, Viera
Mr. Feathers,
Per our legal department, cite 119.071(3)(a), AGO 2015-06, and Central Fla. Reg'l Transp. Authority d/b/a Lynx v. Post-Newsweek Stations, Orlando Inc., 157 So3d 401 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015).
The Fifth District Court of Appeal in Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority d/b/a Lynx v. Post-Newsweek Stations, Orlando, Inc., considered whether security tapes from cameras installed on transit authority buses were confidential as revealing the security system.20 Citing to s. 281.301, F.S., which states that records that directly relate to or reveal information about security systems are confidential, the court concluded that the video footage captured by the bus camera "directly relates to and reveals information about a security system."21 The court found that the videos "which are records, reveal the capabilities-and as a corollary, the vulnerabilities-of the current system" and therefore, are confidential and exempt from public inspection.
[Image result for hello march]Amy Lewandowski
Records Management Specialist
School Board of Brevard County Florida
Government & Community Relations
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way| Viera, Florida 32940
' 321.633.1000 x11453 7 321.633.3620
* Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org<mailto:Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org>
From: Brevard County Public Schools, Viera
Mr. Feathers,
Please see the attached updated invoice.
[Image result for hello march]Amy Lewandowski
Records Management Specialist
School Board of Brevard County Florida
Government & Community Relations
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way| Viera, Florida 32940
' 321.633.1000 x11453 7 321.633.3620
* Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org<mailto:Lewandowski.Amy@brevardschools.org>
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