Laura H. Ortiz v. Springfield, City of - Public Schools (SPR 20232272)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 4, 2023 SPR23/2272 Jeremy Saint Laurent, Esq. First Associate City Solicitor City of Springfield 36 Court Street Springfield, MA 01103 Dear Attorney Saint Laurent: I have received the petition of Laura Ortiz appealing the response of the City of Springfield (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On September 8, 2023, Ms. Ortiz requested: [1] Any responsive record of even a confirmation email for the following McKinney Vento Student statistics: [a] 2023-2024 SY McKinney Vento Student statistics or verification; *how many students were placed by the state or federal government classified as McKinney- Vento or Homeless, if 5 or more in statistics in SPSD…. [b] 2022-2023 SY McKinney Vento Student statistics or verification; *how many students were placed by the state or federal government classified as McKinney- Vento or Homeless, if 5 or more in statistics in SPSD…. [c] 2021-2022 SY McKinney Vento Student statistics or verification; *how many students were placed by the state or federal government classified as McKinney- Vento or Homeless, if 5 or more in statistics in SPSD…. [2] Any responsive records for McKinney or other students facing barriers to clean or adequate amounts of clothes or access to a washer and dryer at home: [a] How many of the SPSD individual schools have laundry equipment and what individual school by name; Can the McKinney Vento students access these laundry areas via a school staff person and whom would this be at all individual schools; Can any student regardless of homeless status access these laundry areas via a school staff and whom would this be at all individual schools[.] [b] How many students were unable to come to school or had school refusals due to barriers for access to clean or adequate amount of clothes just in statistics only, and if 5 or more in statistics then what were the individual student counts at each 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

Jeremy Saint Laurent, Esq. SPR23/2272 Page 2 October 4, 2023 individual school[.] [c] How many students were bullied while at school because they did not have access to clean or adequate amount of clothes just in statistics only; and if 5 or more in statistics then what were the individual student counts at each individual school Timeline for 2 is: 2023-2024 SY, 2022-2023 SY[.] [3] Any Plan or Directive or other that SPSD has that addresses any removals to any barriers that the McKinney-Vento students or peers have to accessing basic needs like shelter, clothing or necessities in order to attend school. Given that many students since the pandemic of March 2020 have struggled in households that were impacted in employment, access to utilities, access to laundry, access to transportation, or being impoverished and can no longer afford things given the decline of our country and rising rent and other astronomical daily housing and living rising costs. On September 20, 2023, the City responded and provided a fee estimate. Unsatisfied with the response, Ms. Ortiz petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2272, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the City intends to provide a further response to Ms. Ortiz. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Ms. Ortiz with said response, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. Ortiz may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Laura Ortiz Stephen Roche, Esq.