Alisha Patel v. Easthampton, City of - Public Schools (SPR 20241233)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records May 3, 2024 SPR24/1233 Maureen Binienda Interim Superintendent Easthampton Public Schools 50 Payson Avenue, 2nd Floor Easthampton, MA 01027 Dear Superintendent Binienda: I have received the petition of Alisha Patel, on behalf of Attorney Katherine Stathulis, both of the Center for Public Interest, Advocacy, and Collaboration, appealing the nonresponse of the Easthampton 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 April 1, 2024, Ms. Patel requested the following records: [1.] An extract of your records management system or database that includes each school-related arrest and each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school year (up until the day the records are produced). . .[;] [2.] If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide school incident reports on each school-related arrest and referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021- 2022 school year (up until the day the records are produced)[;] [3.] A copy of any active standard operating procedures developed with the police department and/or other law enforcement agencies regarding police placement or activity in your corresponding school[;] [4.] Any records instructing or informing police personnel of, or otherwise describing data reporting requirements and procedures for complying with G.L. c. 71 § 37P(b)[;] [5.] The cost to the school district of assigning a school resource officer to each 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

Maureen Binienda SPR24/1178 Page 2 May 3, 2024 [6.] The total number of school resource officers and total number of guidance counselors for each school in your district for school years 2018-2019, 2019- 2020, 2020-2021[;] [7.] The total number and a brief description of 911 calls from schools in your district to local police departments conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022[;] [8.] A description of the proposed budget for mental, social, or emotional health support personnel for the school district. Claiming to not yet have received a response, Ms. Patel petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/1178, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the School provided Ms. Patel with a response on April 30, 2024. 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. Patel 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: Alisha Patel Katherine Stathulis, Esq.