Laura H. Ortiz v. Boston, City of - Public Schools (SPR 20232285)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 10, 2023 SPR23/2285 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records Records Access Officer City of Boston One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of Laura Ortiz appealing the nonresponse of the Boston Public Schools (School) 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 the following records concerning McKinney Vento Student statistics: [1.] 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 BPSD[;] [2.] 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 BPSD[;] [3.] 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 BPSD[;] [4.] 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: [5.] How many of the BPSD 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[;] [6.] 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 individual school[;] 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

Shawn A. Williams, Esq. SPR23/2285 Page 2 October 10, 2023 [7.] 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[;] [8.] Any Plan or Directive or other that BPSD 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. Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Ortiz petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2285, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the School has provided a response. Accordingly, the School is ordered to provide Ms. Ortiz with a response to her request, 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 School’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Laura Ortiz