Matthew Cregor v. Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (SPR 20211698)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records July 22, 2021 SPR21/1698 Steven Treat, Esq. Assistant General Counsel/Records Access Officer Department of Children and Families 600 Washington Street, 6th Floor Boston, MA 02111 Dear Attorney Treat: I have received the petition of Attorney Matthew Cregor of the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, on behalf of Leon Smith and Phillip Kassel, appealing the response of the Department of Children and Families (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On March 30, 2021, Mr. Smith and Mr. Kassel requested “copies of any and all public records pertaining to the report, Designing Data-Driven Directions for School Success of Children in Care (‘School Success report’), in the possession of the Department of Children and Families, including but not limited to the following: • A complete copy of the School Success report that was the basis of the public report Stable Placement, Stable School: Improving Education Outcomes of Children in Foster Care in Massachusetts; • Copies of minutes and agendas from all interagency meetings at which the funding, preparation, completion or release of the School Success report was discussed; • Copies of any materials prepared by or for the Boston University School of Social Work in connection with the School Success report in your possession, including the data sets compiled by DCF and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and any other data sets related to the report; and, • Copies of any and all correspondence, including but not limited to email, pertaining to the release of the School Success report in your possession including, but not limited to, such correspondence between DCF Statewide Education Manager . . . and her successor. . .” The Department responded on April 13, 2021, providing a fee estimate. Objecting to the fees, Attorney Cregor petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR21/1698, was opened as a result. 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

Steven Treat SPR21/1698 Page 2 July 22, 2021 In an email correspondence on July 22, 2021, this office was notified that the Department and Attorney Cregor are working together to facilitate the production of the requested records. Accordingly, where the parties appear to be communicating in this matter to resolve issues, I will consider this administrative appeal closed. If unresolved issues remain, Attorney Cregor may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Matthew Cregor, Esq.