Business Insider public records law request August 16 2022

Nicole Kanu filed this request on behalf of Insider Staff with the Cabot Public School District of Cabot, AR.
Est. Completion None
Status
Fix Required

Communications

From: Insider Staff

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

-All separation agreements and settlements reached with current and former teachers who taught in the district between January 1, 2017 through the day this request is fulfilled.

-All public records relating to any and all claims of misconduct against current and former teachers who taught in the district between January 1, 2017 through the day this request is fulfilled. Such public records should include, but not be limited to, all complaints; allegations; claims; investigatory reports; analyses; summaries; memoranda and/or notes; interview recordings; transcripts and/or notes; reviews; emails, text or other electronic messages, voicemails, and/or other communications and/or correspondence; determinations; decisions; orders; resignation letters; employment reclassification documents; offers in compromise and/or settlement agreements; termination and/or transfer papers; letters of reproval and/or other disciplinary actions, whether imposed or not; referrals to law enforcement, administrative, and/or licensing agencies, departments, and/or bodies; appeals; court filings and/or rulings; and all similar materials notwithstanding the use of other terminology, nomenclature, or categorization by this or other involved public agencies.

To further clarify this request, the scope of the misconduct at issue arises from, relates to, and/or is a consequence of sexual behavior and/or activities with district students, whether currently or previously enrolled, and notwithstanding whether any such behavior and/or activities were proven to have occurred or not. The construction of this request should be understood to be liberal and expansive, such that all public records which may be remotely responsive should be produced in full and may only be withheld and/or redacted only as required by law.

I would like these records in the electronic format that they are stored in, transmitted via email or other digital method; please refrain from sending paper copies of the records.

Rather than provide all responsive records at once, I ask that you provide copies of records on a rolling basis, as they become available.

If you determine that any of the information qualifies for an exemption from disclosure, I ask you to note whether the exemption is discretionary, and if so whether it is necessary in this case to exercise your discretion to withhold the information. In any event, please provide a signed notification citing the legal authorities on which you rely if you determine that any of the information is exempt and will not be disclosed.

Please waive any applicable fees; this information is being sought for reporting purposes. If I can provide any clarification that will help expedite the processing of my request, please contact me directly, at mdrange@insider.com.

Note: a delay in access to these records is tantamount to a denial of access.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Nicole Kanu, a citizen of Arkansas, in coordination with Insider Staff.

From: Muckrock Staff

Hello,

Please find proof of residency attached.

Thank you so much for your help with this request.

Sincerely,

MuckRock (attachment redacted)

From: Cabot Public School District

Ms. Kanu,

Thank you for providing that information. However, the note at the bottom
of the email says, "This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member .
. . ." According to the MuckRock website, you are a MuckRock staff member.
As we stated before, Arkansas Code Annotated 25-19-105(a)(1)(A) specifies
that records are to be provided for review at the request of any "citizen of
the State of Arkansas." Please provide proof that the requester is a citizen of
Arkansas. Once that is received and confirmed, we will begin to evaluate
the request.

Thank you,

Leila Seigrist
General Counsel
Cabot Public Schools
602 North Lincoln Street
Cabot, AR 72023
501-843-3363

From: Muckrock Staff

Hello,

Attached is Nicole Kanu's proof of residency.

Thank you for your continued help with this request.

Sincerely,

MuckRock [Attachment Redacted]

From: Cabot Public School District

Ms. Kanu,

Once again, this is not sufficient in light of the content of your email.
Your drivers license shows that you are an Arkansas resident. But the note
at the bottom of the email says, "This request is not filed by a MuckRock
staff member . . . ." According to the MuckRock website, you are a MuckRock
staff member. As we stated before, Arkansas Code Annotated
25-19-105(a)(1)(A) specifies that records are to be provided for review at
the request of any "citizen of the State of Arkansas." Please provide proof
that the requester is a citizen of Arkansas. Once that is received and
confirmed, we will begin to evaluate the request.

Thank you,
--
Leila Seigrist
General Counsel
Cabot Public Schools
602 North Lincoln Street
Cabot, AR 72023
501-843-3363

Files

There are no files associated with this request.