Jean Z. Batty v. Town of Scituate- Public Schools (SPR 20171623)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supe-rvisor ofR ecords November 22, 2017 SPR17/1623 Ronald J. Griffin Superintendent of Schools Scituate Public Schools Administration Office 606 Chief Justice Cushing Highway Scituate, MA 02066 Dear Superintendent Griffin: I have received the petition of Jean Batty appealing the response of the Scituate Public Schools (School) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 1O A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Ms. Batty requested use records for an identified bus. The School responded stating it does not keep logs of mileage or usage of each bus and all leased buses are used for regular bus routes, sports runs and field trips. Unsatisfied with this response, Ms. Batty appealed to this office. 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, § lOA(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.03(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). Determination Subsequent to the intervention by a member of the Public Records Division staff, this office was notified that a supplemental response will be provided to Ms. Batty addressing her concerns. I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Batty may appeal the substantive nature of the School's response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Ronald J. Griffin, Superintendent SPRl 7/1623 Page 2 November 22, 2017 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Jean Batty