Grace Ferguson v. Haverhill, City of - Public Schools (SPR 20213125)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records December 14, 2021 SPR21/3125 Michael Pfifferling Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations Haverhill Public Schools 4 Summer Street, Room 104 Haverhill, MA 01830 Dear Assistant Superintendent Pfifferling: I have received the petition of Grace Ferguson of The Daily Dot appealing the response of the Haverhill Public Schools (School) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On September 14, 2021, Ms. Ferguson requested: “[a]ny and all records … from March 1, 2021 to present, relating to the ransomware attack on the [School] in April 2021 … includ[ing] but is not limited to records containing [identified] … terms … for [a] specified time period.” Previous appeal The requested records were the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR21/2835 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (November 9, 2021). The School responded on November 29, 2021. Unsatisfied with the response, Ms. Ferguson petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR21/3125, was opened as a result. 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, § 10A(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). 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(b)(iv) (written response must “identify any records, categories of records or portions of records that the agency or municipality intends to withhold, and provide the specific reasons for such withholding, including the specific exemption or exemptions upon which the withholding is based…”); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see 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

Michael Pfifferling SPR21/3125 Page 2 December 14, 2021 also Dist. Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). The School’s November 29th response In its November 29th response, the School claimed Exemptions (d) and (n) of the Public Records Law to withhold certain records. In camera inspection In order to facilitate a determination as to the applicability of the School’s claims to withhold the requested records, the School must provide this office with the un-redacted copy of the responsive records for in camera inspection. After I complete my review of the documents, I will return the records to your custody and issue an opinion on the public or exempt nature of the record. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4). The authority to require the submission of records for an in camera inspection emanates from the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4); see also G. L. c. 66, § 1. This office interprets the in camera inspection process to be analogous to that utilized by the judicial system. See Rock v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 384 Mass. 198, 206 (1981) (administrative agency entitled deference in the interpretation of its own regulations). Records are not voluntarily submitted, but rather are submitted pursuant to an order by this office that an in camera inspection is necessary to make a proper finding. Records are submitted for the limited purpose of review. This office is not the custodian of records examined in camera, therefore, any request made to this office for records being reviewed in camera will be denied. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4)(c). This office has a long history of cooperation with governmental agencies with respect to in camera inspection. Custodians submit copies of the relevant records to this office upon a promise of confidentiality. This office does not release records reviewed in camera to anyone under any circumstances. Upon a determination of the public record status, records reviewed in camera are promptly returned to the custodian. To operate in any other fashion would seriously impede our ability to function and would certainly affect our credibility within the legal community. Please be aware, any cover letter submitted to accompany the relevant records may be subject to disclosure. Order Accordingly, the School is ordered to provide this office with an un-redacted copy of the responsive records for in camera inspection without delay.

Michael Pfifferling SPR21/3125 Page 3 December 14, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Grace Ferguson