Lonna Steinberg v. Amherst Regional Public Schools (SPR 20232825)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records December 4, 2023 SPR23/2825 Debbie Westmoreland Amherst Regional Public Schools 170 Chestnut Street Amherst, MA 01002 Dear Ms. Westmoreland: I have received the petition Lonna Steinberg appealing the nonresponse of the Amherst Regional 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 November 3, 2023, Ms. Steinberg requested “[a]ny emails, letters, text messages, documents, or communications of any kind, including but not limited to personal email accounts and text messages, which are explicitly covered by the Public Records Law per the Mayor ... to, from or signed by any School Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Amherst school principal, including Regional principals, Amherst School Committee Member or Amherst Regional School Committee Member, including communications to/from regionalschoolcommittee@arps.org and amherstschoolcommittee@arps.org from October 7th until the present that contains [identified search terms].” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Steinberg petitioned this office and this appeal SPR23/2825, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the School provided Ms. Steinberg with a response dated November 30, 2023. Where this appeal was opened as a result of the School’s lack of a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Steinberg 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: Lonna Steinberg 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