Boston Countering Violent Extremism
| Submitted | Jan. 25, 2016 |
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Communications
From: Waqas Mirza
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
A copy of all briefs, memos, directives, PowerPoint slides, guidelines or other documents concerning the countering violent extremism (CVE) model developed by the Greater Boston Regional Collaborative.
A copy of all records that define, display, present, state, update, clarify, teach, or explain Boston's model for CVE.
A copy of all emails, letters, and other written communication between Department of Education employees and between Department of Education employees and other governmental partners concerning CVE.
You can restrict your search to records created after January 1, 2014 to the date this request is processed.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Waqas Mirza
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 25, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Varon, Joshua (DOE)
Dear Mr. Mirza,
I write to confirm receipt of your request for records related to a CVE curriculum at the Greater Boston Regional Collaborative. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ("ESE") is currently processing your request. We will provide the records you have requested as soon as possible.
Please be advised, to help process and respond to public record request more efficiently, ESE now uses an online public record intake system<http://www.mass.gov/edu/public-records-request.html>. In the future, please submit pubic record requests through this web application, featured on the website for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education. In addition to speeding up the processing times, upon submission of a request you'll receive information on how to seek status updates and to ask questions related to your request.
Thank you,
Josh Varon
Legal Counsel
MA Dept. of Elem. and Sec. Ed.
jvaron@doe.mass.edu<mailto:jvaron@doe.mass.edu>
781-338-3400
From: Varon, Joshua (DOE)
Dear Mr. Mirza:
I write to respond to your public records request seeking "all briefs, memos, directives, PowerPoint slides, guidelines or other documents concerning the countering violent extremism (CVE) model developed by the Greater Boston Regional Collaborative."
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) has no records that respond to your request. The Greater Boston Regional Collaborative is not an educational collaborative established under G.L. c. 40, §4E, and such an educational collaborative has never been approved by the Commissioner of ESE.
A Google search has turned up a document titled, "Fact Sheet: A Framework for Prevention and Intervention Strategies<https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Boston%20Framework%20for%20CVE-Fact%20Sheet.pdf>." Because this "fact sheet" appears to be written by the Greater Boston Regional Collaborative, it makes sense that you would direct this request to ESE. The Greater Boston Regional Collaborative, however, is not an education collaborative overseen by ESE. Again, we have no records related to this fact sheet or what you have described as CVE.
I hope this helps.
Josh Varon
Legal Counsel
MA Dept. of Elem. and Sec. Ed.
jvaron@doe.mass.edu<mailto:jvaron@doe.mass.edu>
781-338-3409
From: Waqas Mirza
Hi Josh,
Thanks so much for your response. If you look at the full framework available at the Justice Department website (http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-ma/pages/attachments/2015/02/18/framework.pdf) it mentions "Anne Gilligan, MPH, Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Education" in Appendix A as part of the Collaborative.
Could you please check again and perhaps reach out to a staff member that may have better knowledge about this specific framework.
Thank you for all your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 25, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Varon, Joshua (DOE)
Mr. Mirza,
I have contacted Anne Gilligan, and have identified some responsive records. I’m reviewing them, and hope to produce them to you early next week. Thank you,
- Josh
-
~WRD000
From: Waqas Mirza
Thank you for the update, Josh.
Waqas Mirza.
From: Varon, Joshua (DOE)
Mr. Mirza,
I took another look and identified emails sent to Anne Gilligan that respond to your request. These emails are attached, and they comprise all of the Department’s records that respond to your request.
If I can be of further assistance, just let me know. Thanks,
- Josh
From: Waqas Mirza
Thanks so much, Josh. I sincerely appreciate all your help with this.
Just one quick thing: The e-mail on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 5:27PM from Donini-Melanson, Brandy lists the following attachments which are not included in the PDF:
<< File: Nov3Presentation.pdf >>
<< File: Building Resilience to Violent Extremism Final Report.pdf>>
<< File: Building Resilience to Violent Extremism Final OverviewSomaliAmericans.pdf >>
Would you please send me those attachments as well?
Thank you once again,
Waqas Mirza.
From: Varon, Joshua (DOE)
Mr. Mirza,
My apologies for this oversight. Attached are the records you have requested. – Josh
From: Waqas Mirza
Hi Josh,
Once again thank you for being so helpful and responsive. I really appreciate your help with this request!
Waqas.
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