Shiff Hardin LLP, outside legal counsel bills, CPS

Dear Miriam:

Thank you for your interest in Chicago Public Schools. Your FOIA request has been received and is being processed. Your FOIA Center reference number for tracking purposes is: N012113-122022
You have requested the following records: To Whom It May Concern:

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

Since July 1, 2019 through current:

1) Copies of all invoices from the Schiff Hardin LLP also known as ArentFox Schiff LLP;

2) Copies of records of payments by CPS/Chicago Board of Education to Schiff Hardin LLP (aka ArentFox Schiff). I want the actual bills as well as proof of payment by the district.

3) Any and all letters of engagement between CPS/Chicago Board of Education and Schiff Hardin LLP (ArentFox Schiff), including any modifications or changes.

Because this request is in the public interest for Illinois nonprofit The FOIA Bakery’s work to advocate for public education, please waive any fees in accordance with 5 ILCS § 140/6(c). Feel free to contact me with any questions, or if clarification is needed.

Thank you.

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Miriam Bhimani

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) responds to all public records requests in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.
If further time is needed to assemble and copy all documents responsive to your FOIA request, we will contact you with a time estimate and a request to extend.
Upon the completion of a response, CPS will provide the first 50 pages to you at no charge.  If a response is more than 50 pages, a fee of 15¢ per page will be charged for each additional page. Copies of video recordings have a fee of $48. All applicable fees must be paid prior to the copying. CPS will inform you of any fees due if your paper response exceeds 50 pages. You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you’ll receive an email when your request has been completed. Thank you for using the CPS FOIA Center.

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12/21/2022

Miriam Bhimani
MuckRock News, DEPT MR138086 263 Huntington Ave
Boston MA 02115

Dear Miriam:

RE: Chicago Public Schools FOIA Request N012113-122022
Thank you again for using the Chicago Public Schools FOIA Center.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, a public body may extend the time to respond to a FOIA request by up to 5 business days for a limited number of reasons. 5 ILCS 140/3(e).
We are extending the time to respond to your request by 5 business days for one or more of the following reason(s):
(  ) the requested records are stored in whole or in part at other locations than the office having charge of the requested records;
( )  the request requires the collection of a substantial number of specified records;
( ) the request is couched in categorical terms and requires an extensive search for the records responsive to it;
( ) the requested records have not been located in the course of routine search and additional efforts are being made to locate them;
(  ) the requested records require examination and evaluation by personnel having the necessary competence and discretion to determine if they are exempt from disclosure under Section 7 of this Act or should be revealed only with appropriate deletions;
(x) the request for records cannot be complied with by the public body within the time limits prescribed by 5 ILCS 140/3 (c) without unduly burdening or interfering with the operations of the public body;
( ) there is need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another public body or among two or more components of a public body having a substantial interest in the determination or in the subject matter of the request
Sincerely,

Annie Righi
FOIA Officer
Chicago Public Schools

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01/06/2023
Miriam Bhimani
Dear Miriam:
RE: Chicago Public Schools FOIA Request N012113-122022
Thank you again for using the Chicago Public Schools FOIA Center. We are writing regarding your Freedom of Information Act Request for the following records: To Whom It May Concern:

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

Since July 1, 2019 through current:

1) Copies of all invoices from the Schiff Hardin LLP also known as ArentFox Schiff LLP;

2) Copies of records of payments by CPS/Chicago Board of Education to Schiff Hardin LLP (aka ArentFox Schiff). I want the actual bills as well as proof of payment by the district.

3) Any and all letters of engagement between CPS/Chicago Board of Education and Schiff Hardin LLP (ArentFox Schiff), including any modifications or changes.

Because this request is in the public interest for Illinois nonprofit The FOIA Bakery’s work to advocate for public education, please waive any fees in accordance with 5 ILCS § 140/6(c). Feel free to contact me with any questions, or if clarification is needed.

Thank you.

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Miriam Bhimani

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) FOIA Office is seeking additional time to respond to this request. If agreed, we will respond by end of business day Friday, January 20, 2023. Please note that the CPS FOIA Office is still gathering and reviewing responsive documents and we are working diligently on fulfilling your request. However, district offices were closed from December 26, 2022, reopening on January 3, 2023, causing a delay. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you, Annie Righi Freedom of Information Act Officer Chicago Public Schools

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January 20, 2023 Miriam Bhimani requests@muckrock.com
RE: Chicago Public Schools FOIA Request N012113-122022
Dear Ms. Bhimani: This letter is in reply to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking the following information: Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request the following records: Since July 1, 2019 through current: 1) Copies of all invoices from the Schiff Hardin LLP also known as ArentFox Schiff LLP; 2) Copies of records of payments by CPS/Chicago Board of Education to Schiff Hardin LLP (aka ArentFox Schiff). I want the actual bills as well as proof of payment by the district. 3) Any and all letters of engagement between CPS/Chicago Board of Education and Schiff Hardin LLP (ArentFox Schiff), including any modifications or changes. RESPONSE : Documents responsive to your request are available to download via the CPS FOIA Center at www.cps.edu/FOIARequests . Please log in with your username and password to access the records. Please note, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) FOIA Office has conducted a due diligence search for responsive records and was unable to locate a PDF copy of invoice 2286331B. All responsive records located in the course of this search are being provided in response to this request. Under the rules of FOIA, private information and unique identifiers contained within public records are exempt from public disclosure; that data has been withheld, including Federal Tax Identification Number and bank account information pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/7 (1)(g). To the extent you consider this a denial, pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a) you may file a Request for Review with the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at: Public Access Counselor; Office of the Attorney General; 500 South 2nd Street; Springfield, IL 62706.  You also have the right to seek judicial review of your denial by filing a lawsuit in the State circuit court; 5 ILCS 140/11. If you have any questions, please contact our office at (773) 553-3500. Thank you for your request. Sincerely, Annie Righi Freedom of Information Act Officer Chicago Public Schools