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John Hilliard v. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (SPR 20250542)
Massachusetts Public Records Appeal · Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond · Filed 02-25-2025
ClosedAppealPetitioner Won
SPR 20250542 is a Massachusetts Public Records Law appeal filed by John Hilliard concerning records held by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, opened 02-25-2025. Type: Appeal. Status: Closed. Supervisor of Public Records determination: Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond.
Case Details
- Case Number
- 20250542
- Case Type
- Appeal
- Case Subtype
- Initial
- Status
- Closed
- Requester
- John Hilliard
- Date Opened
- 02-25-2025
- Date Closed
- 03-07-2025
- Date Request Submitted
- 01-29-2025
- Response Provided Date
- 02-14-2025
- Processing Fees Charged
- 0.00
- Petitions Regarding Fees
- No
- Went to Court
- No
PDF Document
Extracted Text (searchable & copyable)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records March 7, 2025 SPR25/0542 Helene Bettencourt Records Access Officer Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 02148 Dear Ms. Bettencourt: I have received the petition of John Hilliard, of the Boston Globe, appealing the response of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 30, 2025, Mr. Hilliard requested the following: [1] Any emails, text messages, or instant messages (ie Slack) sent or received by [three named individuals] related to migrant students [2] To narrow the scope of this request, I seek emails, text messages, or instant messages since Nov. 5, 2024 [3] Any statements, alerts, or announcements that were sent to internal staff or made publicly related to migrant students since Nov. 5, 2024 The Department responded on February 14, 2025, and assigned reference number P004477-013025 to this request. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Mr. Hilliard petitioned this office, and this appeal, SPR25/0542, was opened as a result. Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, I learned that the Department provided a supplemental response by email to Mr. Hilliard and this office on March 5, 2025. As this appeal was opened based on the Department’s February 14th response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. If unresolved issues remain, Mr. Hilliard may further appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s March 5th response within ninety (90) 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 Helene Bettencourt SPR25/0542 Page 2 March 7, 2025 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: John Hilliard