Andrew McIsaac v. Bridgewater Raynham Regional School District (SPR 20161206)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor of Records December 21, 2016 SPR16/1206 Ms. Carla R. Thomas, M.Ed. CAGS Director of Student Services Bridgewater Raynham Regional School District 166 Mt. Prospect Street Bridgewater, MA 02324 Dear Ms. Thomas: I have received the petition of Andrew Mclsaac appealing the response of Norfolk Bridgewater Raynham Regional School District (School) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § lO(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Mclsaac requested "all Physicians' Statement for Temporary Home or Hospitalization forms received by the School during the 2015-2016 school year." In an email response dated December 19, 2016 the School denied his request in its entirety indicating the responsive records involve "Student Records" protected under the Family Educational Rights Act (FERP A). The Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § lO(c); 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4). "Public records" is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any town of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c ); see also District Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. If there are any fees associated with a response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 1O (a); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.06(2) (where cost of complying with a request for public records is expected to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), custodian of records shall One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

CUSTODIAN SPR16/1206 Page 2 December 21, 2016 provide written good faith estimate). Once fees are paid, a records custodian must provide the responsive records. To assist in requesting and responding to requests for public records please refer to our publication, A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This document is available on the Internet, free of charge, at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prepdf/guide.pdf. Attorneys on my staff are available during regular business hours to answer general questions regarding the Public Records Law. In addition, members of my staff will visit a records custodian in person to conduct training workshops on the Public Records Law upon request. Please contact my office directly at the telephone number provided in this determination for further information. In the School's December 19 email, it indicated its intent to withhold records responsive to Mr. Mcisaac's request under FERPA. However, the School's response failed to cite any exemption to the Public Records Law that justifies withholding the information. To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. In addition, any non-exempt, segregable p9rtion of a public record is subject to mandatory disclosure. G. L. c. 66, § lO(a). The School must explain, with specificity, whether it is possible to redact any personally identifying information and provide any non-exempt, segregable portion of the records. I understand a member of my staff contacted you about this appeal. Order Accordingly, the School is hereby ordered to provide Mr. Mcisaac with a revised response, prepared in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law, and its Regulations. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us cc: Andrew McI saac