Christopher Huffaker v. Boston, City of - Public Schools (SPR 20242425)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records September 4, 2024 SPR24/2425 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records City of Boston 1 City Hall Square, Room 615 Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of Christopher Huffaker 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 July 23, 2024, Mr. Huffaker requested the following: [1] Data indicating the average teacher absence rate and the rate of teacher chronic absence (teachers missing 10% of school days or more) for the school years 2018-2019, 2019- 2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023- 2024. [2] The same data (average staff absence rate and teacher chronic absence rate) through March 1 for those six school years. [3] A copy of the district’s current teacher leave policies. Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Huffaker petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/2425, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that a representative from the School intends on providing a written response to Mr. Huffaker. Accordingly, the School is ordered to provide Mr. Huffaker with a response in accordance with the Public Records Law, its Regulations and this order within ten 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. Mr. Huffaker may appeal the substantive nature of the School’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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 Williams SPR24/2425 Page 2 September 4, 2024 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Christopher Huffaker