LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT - Verification of reduced administrative and public records processing staff in 2022
| Submitted | Dec. 21, 2022 |
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Communications
From: John Veritas
12-21-2022
via email to: PublicRecordsRequest@lwsd.org
LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT - Verification of reduced administrative and public records processing staff in 2022
Good Morning,
While reading MUCKROCK this morning and drinking my coffee, I read an interesting email from Lauren Titchbourne, outside general counsel for the Lake Washington School District:
“12-13-2022
Good morning,
My firm acts as outside general counsel for the Lake Washington School District ("District"). The District has asked us to assist in responding to Public Records Requests due to some recent staff shortages. In accordance with the Public Records Act, the District typically processes PRA requests in the order in which they are received. The District has received an unprecedented quantity of voluminous public records requests during 2022. In light of these unique circumstances, the District anticipates it will be able to complete your request by June 2, 2023.
Sincerely,
Lauren Titchbourne | PRK Livengood
Attorney
[cid:image001.jpg@01D5BFBC.132F4700]
Peterson Russell Kelly Livengood PLLC
10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 1850
Bellevue, WA 98004
Direct: (425) 990-4044
Email: ltitchbourne@prklaw.com<mailto:ltitchbourne@prklaw.com>”
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
REQUEST FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WRITINGS - ALL ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL), ELECTRONIC TEXTS, and ELECTRONIC RECORDS referencing the following subjects/or topics for the period of time between January 1, 2022 - December 21, 2022:
Reduced Staff, Reduction in staff, administrative Staff reductions, retirements, layoffs, firings, open positions, full head count, reduced head count, delays due to reduced staff, and any records regarding full or reduced administrative staffing for your agency in 2022, even more specifically, any and all references to reduced or a reduction in staffing of personnel who handle the processing of PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS and any references to delays in processing public records requests due to reduced staffing.
Please include in any reasonable search for responsive records a search of the following email accounts:
Dr. Jon Holmen - SUPERINTENDENT - joholmen@lwsd.org
Scott Beebe - Deputy Superintendent - sbeebe@lwsd.org
Matt Gillingham - Deputy Superintendent - mgillingham@lwsd.org
Dale Cote - Associate Superintendent Student, School and Instructional Services- dcote@lwsd.org
Barbara Posthumus - Associate Superintendent Business and Support Services - bposthumus@lwsd.org
Dr. Joy Ross - Associate Superintendent Talent Strategy and Communications - joross@lwsd.org
Camille Alexander - Executive Director of Human Resources - calexander@lwsd.org
Dr. Richard Patterson - Director - ripatterson@lwsd.org
Zakiya Cita - Talent Acquisition Director - zcita@lwsd.org
Jerred Kelly - Director Classified Employee & Labor Relations - jerrkelly@lwsd.org
With respect to requests for records that include "communications," I am requesting all emails, text messages, and electronic records, regardless the type of device or account from which the communication was generated or where the device or data is stored (including personal devices such as personal cell phones, laptops, tablets, and/or computers etc. used from home to conduct public business during the COVID-19 Pandemic). Nissen v. Pierce County, 183 Wa.2d 863 (2015).
With respect to requests for records that include "Writings" per 42.56.010(4) this means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated.
I also request a detailed contemporaneous log to be provided for any document withheld or redacted.
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.
From: Lake Washington School District
[LWSD logo for letterhead_color.tif]Dr. Jon Holmen – Superintendent
L.E. Scarr Resource Center
16250 N.E. 74th Street
Redmond WA. 98073
Office: 425-936-1200 • Fax: 425-861-7765
December 22, 2022
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 136814
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Dear MuckRock News,
This letter confirms that the District has received your request on December 21, 2022. Pursuant to RCW 42.56.040(1)(c) et seq., I acknowledge your request. This letter serves as the response required by the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56.520. You are requesting the following:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
REQUEST FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WRITINGS - ALL ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL), ELECTRONIC TEXTS, and ELECTRONIC RECORDS referencing the following subjects/or topics for the period of time between January 1, 2022 - December 21, 2022:
Reduced Staff, Reduction in staff, administrative Staff reductions, retirements, layoffs, firings, open positions, full head count, reduced head count, delays due to reduced staff, and any records regarding full or reduced administrative staffing for your agency in 2022, even more specifically, any and all references to reduced or a reduction in staffing of personnel who handle the processing of PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS and any references to delays in processing public records requests due to reduced staffing.
Please include in any reasonable search for responsive records a search of the following email accounts:
Dr. Jon Holmen - SUPERINTENDENT - joholmen@lwsd.org<mailto:joholmen@lwsd.org>
Scott Beebe - Deputy Superintendent - sbeebe@lwsd.org<mailto:sbeebe@lwsd.org>
Matt Gillingham - Deputy Superintendent - mgillingham@lwsd.org<mailto:mgillingham@lwsd.org>
Dale Cote - Associate Superintendent Student, School and Instructional Services- dcote@lwsd.org<mailto:dcote@lwsd.org>
Barbara Posthumus - Associate Superintendent Business and Support Services - bposthumus@lwsd.org<mailto:bposthumus@lwsd.org>
Dr. Joy Ross - Associate Superintendent Talent Strategy and Communications - joross@lwsd.org<mailto:joross@lwsd.org>
Camille Alexander - Executive Director of Human Resources - calexander@lwsd.org<mailto:calexander@lwsd.org>
Dr. Richard Patterson - Director - ripatterson@lwsd.org<mailto:ripatterson@lwsd.org>
Zakiya Cita - Talent Acquisition Director - zcita@lwsd.org<mailto:zcita@lwsd.org>
Jerred Kelly - Director Classified Employee & Labor Relations - jerrkelly@lwsd.org<mailto:jerrkelly@lwsd.org>
With respect to requests for records that include "communications," I am requesting all emails, text messages, and electronic records, regardless the type of device or account from which the communication was generated or where the device or data is stored (including personal devices such as personal cell phones, laptops, tablets, and/or computers etc. used from home to conduct public business during the COVID-19 Pandemic). Nissen v. Pierce County, 183 Wa.2d 863 (2015).
With respect to requests for records that include "Writings" per 42.56.010(4) this means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated.
I also request a detailed contemporaneous log to be provided for any document withheld or redacted.
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.
Please note, the District is currently experiencing an unusually high volume of extensive and complex public records requests and is processing requests in the order received and clarified. Given the unprecedented quantity of pending records requests, the District anticipates it will be able to complete this request by June 21, 2023.
Under the Public Disclosure Act, districts may not charge for locating documents or for inspection. The district will assess a fee of .15 cents per page for any copying. The District will email files to you and does not anticipate a fee.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 425-936-1110 or via e-mail at sparthemer@lwsd.org<mailto:sparthemer@lwsd.org>.
Sincerely,
Shannon Parthemer
Communications Director
Lake Washington School District
From: Lake Washington School District
Good afternoon,
Please find attached the closure letter and the responsive documents regarding the 2022-12-21 request.
With this email, this request is closed.
Kind regards,
Ivania Ordonez | PRK Livengood
Legal Assistant
[cid:image001.jpg@01D5BFBC.132F4700]
Peterson Russell Kelly Livengood PLLC
10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 1850
Bellevue, WA 98004
D: 425.990.4058 | F: 425.451.0714
iordonez@prklaw.com<mailto:iordonez@prklaw.com> | www.prklaw.com<http://www.prklaw.com/>
This electronic mail transmission and any accompanying documents contain information belonging to the sender which may be confidential and legally privileged. This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom this electronic mail transmission was sent as indicated above. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken in reliance on the contents of the information contained in this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please delete the message. Thank you.
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image001
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Washington Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 21, 2022. You previously indicated that it would be completed on June 22, 2023. I wanted to let you know that I am still interested in the following documents, and to see if that date was still accurate.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Lake Washington School District
Good morning,
Please see the letter attached from Sruthi Namburi closing this request. The responsive document is attached as well.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Ivania Ordonez | PRK Livengood
Legal Assistant
[cid:image001.jpg@01D5BFBC.132F4700]
Peterson Russell Kelly Livengood PLLC
10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 1850
Bellevue, WA 98004
D: 425.990.4058 | F: 425.451.0714
iordonez@prklaw.com<mailto:iordonez@prklaw.com> | www.prklaw.com<http://www.prklaw.com/>
This electronic mail transmission and any accompanying documents contain information belonging to the sender which may be confidential and legally privileged. This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom this electronic mail transmission was sent as indicated above. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken in reliance on the contents of the information contained in this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please delete the message. Thank you.
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